A number of school division chose to remain open this morning despite road closures.

Garden Valley School Division, Western School Division, Borderland School Division and Red River Valley School Division all remained open despite the closure of Highway 14 and Highway 3.

"The disconnect were the roads were fine, yet... the roads were closed," GVSD Superintendent Vern Reimer says. "And we didn't get a real good answer as to why that was, so we had to make a call following our policy, we did, and I believe it was the right call."

According to GVSD policy, Reimer says staff drove local roads, connected with neighbouring divisions and checked with bus drivers, "and there was no reason to close schools today," he says.

At 6:45 a.m the division decided not to close based on the current road conditions, forecast, visibility and temperature.

At approximately 9:45 a.m all highways in GVSD were reopened.

Tara Seel, RCMP Media Relations says closing a highway is not a decision made lightly.

"People have places and urgent things to do, so the decision is made solely with the interest of public safety in mind," Seel explains.

Local RCMP detachments make the final decision to close a portion of highway, though work together with MIT.

Factors include visibility (under 100 m), slippery or snow-covered road surfaces and risk of collision.

"It is a subjective decision but there is criteria that local RCMP officers go through," she says.

Detachments also coordinate with neighbouring jurisdictations impacted by the closure.

While it's an urban myth Autopac coverage is void if a motorist is involved in a collision on a closed highway, the fine is not.

It's legal to travel a closed road, however driving around a barricade can incur a ticket of approximately $240.