A collapsed bridge on the Coquihalla Highway on Nov. 15, 2021.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK
November 15, 2021 - 4:00 PM
Heavy rainfall, and the subsequent flooding and mudslides, have effectively closed all the highway from the B.C. Interior into the Lower Mainland.
Highways and bridges have been washed out by mudslides and flooding. Parts of both Merritt and Princeton have been flooded.
Drive B.C. now lists multiple closed multiple routes, including Highway 5 between Merritt and Hope. The Trans-Canada Highway is also closed between Spences Bridge and Hope due to multiple slides and flooding.
READ MORE: Rescue efforts underway after slide traps people in vehicles in B.C.'s Fraser Valley
Drivers and Ministry of Transportation staff have captured images of the flooding that show extensive damage to highway infrastructure and the nearby landscape.
To the west, Highway 99 is closed in both directions in a 44-kilometre stretch between Lillooet and Pemberton.
READ MORE: High winds in the Okanagan, Kamloops today
Flooding on Highway 97A near Sicamous has reduced the highway to single lane traffic.
Highway 3 is closed in both directions for a 28 kilometre stretch east of Princeton due to flooding. Princeton residents are restricted to either using Highway 5A to the north or Princeton-Summerland Road north east, as a mudslide as closed Highway 3 south east of Hope.
READ MORE: Merritt flood evacuees begin arriving in Kamloops
After being hammered by heavy rain on Sunday and Monday, the Coquihalla Highway will continue to see extreme weather with a transition into snowfall Monday night.
According to Environment Canada, a cold front is going to cross into the region Monday afternoon.
READ MORE: Rain, mud and people trapped: A list of numbers prompted by storm in southern B.C.
“Snow will quickly accumulate tonight with up to 25 cm possible by midday Tuesday. Strong and gusty southwest winds may also reduce visibility due to blowing snow," a weather warning from Environment Canada on Nov. 15 reads.
A mudslide closes Highway 7 near Aggasiz, Nov. 15, 2021.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/B.C. Transportation and Infrastructure
Video footage from drivers and Transportation B.C. shows the fierce runoff rushing onto highways and infrastructure. Above, this driver filmed water rushing near the Othello tunnels.
In a post from B.C. Transportation and Infrastructure, water can be seen rushing down the mountain side north of Othello near the Portia chain up area.
Although it is not yet listed on DriveBC, Highway 8 between Merritt and Spences Bridge appears to be washing out beside the Nicola River.
Up to date highway updates can be found on Drive B.C.'s website here.
For the latest special weather statements, watches and warnings go to Environment Canada's website here.
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