BC: COQUIHALLA #5 OPEN Hope to Merritt to Kamloops
For Commercial Travel (and buses) with a minimum licensed gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 11,794 kilograms.
- Hwy 99 (Pemberton to Lillooet) will re-open to general traffic but nothing larger than a cube van (up to 14,500 kilograms LGVW).
- Hwy 3 (Hope to Princeton) will re-open to general traffic. NOTE: This route is not recommended for motorists who are unaccustomed to winter driving in mountainous areas.
BC Highways report-Monday Dec 20
BC Highways report-Mon Dec 20th
This has been updated as of Monday December 22nd
Here is an overview map from BC Highways & Transportation’s DriveBC.ca website:
[vcex_divider_dots color=”#dd3333″ margin_top=”10″ margin_bottom=”10″]
Over the past week, we have been handling quite a few phone calls from both individuals and commercial truckers… We have posted route maps and tips sheets for each of THESE ROUTE ALTERNATIVES to the Coquihalla Highway (open only to trucker traffic, south of Merritt) between Hope and Kamloops. These routes are open to general traffic now:
- Sea to Sky #99 Vancouver to Lillooet to Kamloops*
- Highway 3 to Princeton, 5A to Merritt, and Highway 5 Coquihalla to Kamloops (this was preferred trucker route prior to Coquihalla re-opening)
- Highway 3 to Penticton and north to Sicamous
- Highway 3 Vancouver to Crowsnest Pass, and Highway 22 to Calgary
- Vancouver to Osoyoos to Cranbrook & Radium to Calgary
- Crowsnest Highway 3 all the way from Vancouver to Medicine Hat
* this route has a load limit, of 14,500 kg and not a good option for commercial truckers
[vcex_divider_dots color=”#dd3333″ margin_top=”10″ margin_bottom=”10″]
What constitutes Essential Travel under State of Emergency (BC Government)
In summary:
- Transporting essential goods and supplies
- Highway and infrastructure repair and maintenance
- Commercially transporting goods and supplies
- Returning to your principal residence
Under the Province-side State of Emergency, the province has instituted gasoline rationing in the Fraser Valley, Vancouver, Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island. Non-emergency vehicles are limited to 30 litres per fill-up, so that fuel can be allocated to emergency vehicles, infrastructure repair vehicles, and supply chain truckers.
The province is now (as of Tuesday Dec 21) opening up travel to non-essential vehicles & travel on Highway #7 in the Fraser Valley, Highway #1 between Chilliwack and Hope, Highway 3 east of Hope, and Highway #99 between Pemberton and Lillooet, with only Highway #1 from Hope to Boston Bar, limited to Essential Travel Only.
Highway #1 (Trans-Canada east-west Calgary to Kamloops)
Travel between Calgary and Golden is still detoured via Highway 95/93 through Radium during fall construction of teh Kicking Horse Pas phase 4, just east of Golden. This will continue until December1, and with overnight detours continuing Dec 1 -23). This detour is unchanged by the current weather-caused disruption.
- Mudslide near Eagle River between Kay Falls Bridge and 19 Mile OH Bridge for 1.8 km ( west of Enchanted Forest/Skytrek Adventure Park, 28 to 30 km west of Revelstoke). Road open to traffic.
Highway #1 (Trans-Canada Fraser Canyon north-south segment)
Update: Thursday December 9: BC Highways is expecting to re-open #1 from Boothroyd to Spences Bridge in early January
Update: Monday November 21: Road re-opened Hope to Boston Bar open to Essential Travel Only
Update: Sunday November 20: Road re-opened Hope to Boston Bar open to Emergency Vehicles Only
- Lytton – road washed out at Tank Hill railway overpass Highway entirely washed out by rockslide (this is major – also affecting cross-Canada railway traffic)
- Flooding between Kahmoose Rd and Main St for 30.8 km (Lytton to 14 km south of Jackass Mountain Summit). Mudslide. Road closed. Assessment in progress. Road is closed from North of Boston Bar (Boothroyd) to Lytton.
- Yale – Flooding between Flood Hope Rd and Junction Hwy 8 for 144.3 km (Hope to Spences Bridge). Rock slide. Road re-opened Hope to Boston Bar open to Essential Travel Only
- This section of highway is expected to re-open early January according to BC Highways and Transportation
Highway #1 (Trans-Canada east-west Lower Mainland from Hope to Vancouver)
Update: Thursday December 9: Highway 7 on the north bank and TCH #1 on the south bank are now full open to all travel
Update: Wednesday November 24: Highway 1 between Horseshoe Bay and Chilliwack has opened to general trave
Update: Sunday November 21: Highway 1 between Highway 9 and Hope has re-opened to local traffic
This traffic (ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY) can be diverted to either Highway 99 (Sea to Sky Highway) to Lillooet and Cache Creek to Kamloops or along #7 (Lougheed Highway) to Hope, and then via #3 Crowsnest Highway to Osoyoos and Penticton, and from there to points further east
- Between Chilliwack and Hope – Mudslide between Annis Rd and K St for 38.4 km (Hope to 2 km east of Chilliwack). Highway 1 between Highway 9 and Hope has re-opened to local traffic
- Between Abbotsford and Chilliwack – flooding between Exit 92 and Exit 109: Yale Rd for 18.1 km (Abbotsford to Chilliwack). Road closed.
- The route between Horseshoe Bay and Chilliwack is open to general travel, though Chilliwack to Hope (as well as Highway 7 on the north bank) are open to all travel
- Highway #1 (Trans-Canada on Vancouver Island)
- Flooding between Finlayson Arm Rd and Wellswood Rd (Langford). Road closed.
- Flooding at te Malhat Summit. Road open to traffic.
Highway 99 (Sea to Sky Highway)
Update: Monday December 20: Road between Pemberton and Lillooet (and continuing to Cache Creek) is open to general travel for vehicles smaller than a cube truck (and under 14,500 kilograms LGVW).
Update: Sunday Novermber 21: Road between Pemberton and Lillooet (and continuing to Cache Creek) has re-opened
Update on Friday November 19th: Road is expected to reopen (for Essential Travel only) sometime Saturday.
This route would be an alternative to #1 and Coquihalla to head east via Whistler to Lillooet and Kamloops
- Mudslide between Lil’wat Pl and Seton Lake Rd for 81.9 km (9 km north of Pemberton to Lillooet). Road between Pemberton and Lillooet (and continuing to Cache Creek) has re-opened. Essential Travel Only
Highway #7 (Lougheed Highway)
This route, on the north bank of the Fraser River between Hope and Coquitlam, would be an alternative route to Trans-Canada #1.
Update Update Friday December 9: Lougheed Highway # 7 is open to General Travel
November 19: the BC Ministry of Highways has reopened this route between Coquitlam and Hope TO ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY under the State of Emergency. There are some sections with alternating single lane of traffic while road repairs continue.
- Flooding between Highlands Blvd and Bodnar Rd (between Agazzis and Harrison Mills). Road repaired to drivable condition
- Mudslide between Johnson Slough Rest Area and Ross Rd for 12.6 km (Kent to 1 km east of Hope) . Road repaired to drivable condition
Highway #5 Coquihalla
Update: Monday December 20: Open to commercial transport & buses (minimum licensed gross vehicle weight (LGVW) of 11,794 kilograms)
Update Thursday December 9: The Coquihalla from Hope to Merritt his section of highway is expected to re-open early January for Commercial Traffic according to BC Highways and Transportation
Update Thursday November 25: the BC Ministry of Highways has announced that temporary repairs will allow the Coauihalla to reopen for commercial use by end of January
Update Wednesday November 17: the BC Ministry of Highways has identified FIVE SECTIONS have failed, including major bridges. They have said repairs can take weeks, if not months.
The #5 Coquihalls is open from Kamloops south to Merritt, and the Okanagan Connector is open between Merritt and Kelowna
- Water pooling between the start of Highway 5 and Exit 231: Mine Creek Rd for 54.4 km (Hope to 12 km north of Coquihalla Summit). Road repaired to drivable condition
- Mudslide at Exit 202 (11 km south of Great Bear Snowshed). Road repaired to drivable condition
Highway #3 (Crowsnest Route)
Update Tuesday December 21: Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton (and on to Penticton & Osoyoos) to be open to general traffic
Update Thursday December 9: The Coquihalla from Hope to Merritt is expected to re-open early January for Commercial Traffic which will allow Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton to be opened to all traffic
Update Saturday November 20: the BC Ministry of Highways has reopened this route between Hope and Osoyoos TO ESSNTIAL TRAVEL ONLY under the State of Emergency. There are 3 sections with alternating single lane of traffic while road repairs continue.
- Mudslide at Sunshine Valley (17 km east of Hope). Road has re-opened to Essential Travel Only. Expect checkpoints.
- Flooding between Taylor Mill Rd and Old Hedley Rd for 27.9 km (2 km east of Princeton to 6 km west of Hedley). Road has re-opened to Essential Travel Only. Expect checkpoints.
- Flooding between Cunliffe Rd and Caldwell Frontage (4 km east of Fernie). Road has re-opened to regular travel
