Photo above (credit BC Transportation) At Jackass Mountain Summit, crews are working to build a temporary bridge over the large span that was washed out as a result of the flood
Coquihalla to Re-Open Monday Dec 20th (time unspecified)
The BC Government just announced (at 5 pm, Dec 15th)
- Hwy 99 (Pemberton to Lillooet) will re-open to general traffic but nothing larger than a cube van.
- 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 Coquihalla Schedule
#5 Coquihalla Highway is targeting early January opening for commercial vehicles (weather dependent) Once that happens, commercial traffic can be moved off Highway 3, opening a recreational travel route to the Okanagan.
Until them, the Crowsnest Route Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton, as well as Highway 99 between Pemberton and Lillooet – will remain restricted t Essential Travel over the holiday season. Hwy 99 has very steep grades, tight corners and narrow stretches. That’s why it will continue to be restricted to essential vehicles no larger than a cube truck. Once the Coquihalla Hwy reopens to commercial trucks, we can look at lifting the Only Essential Travel restrictions on Hwy 3 and possibly Hwy 99.
Trans-Canada #1 Schedule
Trans-Canada Highway # through the Fraser Canyon, from Boothroyd to Spences Bridge is targeted for mid-January opening. Extensive repairs are underway at Jackass Mountain Summit and at Tank Hill east of Lytton. This opens up another 2-lane road for recreational/personal travel to the rest of BC and Canada.
At Jackass Mountain Summit, crews are working to build a temporary bridge over the large span that was washed out as a result of the flood. At Tank Hill, east of Lytton, there will be level crossing over the CPR Tracks with a traffic light until a more permanent solution can be engineered
BC Provincial Priorities
When Mike Farnsworth, the Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure, spoke to media he made it clear that people should not be laid off through Christmas, so Supply Chain access to the province’s highways is paramount.
Until the Coquihalla can reopen to commercial traffic with temporary repairs, Hwy 3 must be kept open primarily for transport trucks moving essential goods, as it’s the only commercial vehicle route linking the Lower Mainland to interior and northern BC. About 3,000 trucks travel daily on that route, and with the highway’s steep grades and tights curves, it would be unsafe to add leisure travellers in private passenger vehicles.
Holiday Travel Options
BC Residents has some holiday travel options. Bus transportation from the Lower Mainland to Kelowna and Kamloops is available. These commercial passenger transport vehicles, driven by professional drivers, will be permitted to travel Hwy 3. There are also more air travel options are comin
