Driver films himself using sidewalk as escape route from Highway 63 traffic jam

Fort McMurray RCMP are investigating a driver who filmed himself driving against traffic onto a pedestrian pathway to bypass congestion on Highway 63 Tuesday.

In a video posted to Facebook, the driver is shown steering his vehicle onto what appears to be a sidewalk at the edge of the highway, nearly hitting a pedestrian who was walking toward him. "I love finding my own little private roadways, saves me so much time," the driver says in the clip. When the pedestrian sternly asked if the driver was lost, he replied "yes," while laughing.

"Oh my God, look how ridiculous I am here," the driver later says in the video before declaring, "Short-cut complete brother, we did it." The footage went public on Tuesday as Highway 63 remains under long-overdue repairs, with the province warning residents to expect delays over the coming weeks.

Wood Buffalo RCMP Corporal Natasha Lytwenko confirmed Wednesday that police had been alerted and that Traffic Services are now investigating the incident. Some online commenters expressed disbelief that the driver posted the incident publicly, while others criticized the dangerous behaviour.

The highway, a pain point for residents, continues to see heavy congestion as repair work proceeds.