A paving crews works in the Murray Flats area on in preparation for the reopening of the Coquihalla Highway to commercial vehicles and intercity bus service after earlier severe flood damage.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/B.C. Ministry of Transportation
December 20, 2021 - 9:33 AM
The Coquihalla Highway has reopened to essential commercial travel following a month of closures due to flooding and landslides.
Effective today, Dec. 20, Highway 5 is available to commercial vehicles with a minimum licensed gross vehicle weight of 11,794 kilograms, according to a press release issued by the province.
"Ministry teams, maintenance contractors and hundreds of workers going flat out in challenging conditions have allowed us to reopen the Coquihalla Highway today, giving B.C.'s commercial drivers a safe, efficient route between the coast and Interior," Ministry of Transportation Ministry Rob Fleming said.
READ MORE: ‘It’s been insane:’ Princeton mayor hoping Coquihalla stays open following flood events
With most commercial vehicles moving to Highway 5, travel restrictions will be lifted from Highway 3 at 8 a.m. tomorrow, Dec. 21, allowing the route between Hope and Princeton to be used for non-essential travel.
Travel restrictions have also been lifted from Highway 99 between Pemberton and Lillooet. However, vehicles more than 14,500 kilograms GVW are still not permitted on this section of Highway 99, according to the province.
Flooding and washouts in November damaged more than 20 sites along 130 kilometres of the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt. This included seven bridges where spans completely collapsed or were otherwise heavily damaged.
More than 300 workers using 200 pieces of equipment moved more than 400,000 cubic metres of gravel, rock, and other material to repair and reopen the highway in just 35 days.
For the latest on highway conditions go to the Drive B.C. website.
— This story was corrected at 9:09 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021 to replace video.
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