Coquihalla Highway could reopen by late January, minister says, as repairs underway
For the first time since last week's devastating storm destroyed several sections of the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt, B.C., the provincial government has issued a tentative timeline for when the route might reopen.
B.C. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming said during a news conference Thursday that - if all goes according to plan - the province hopes to complete "temporary repairs" to allow Highway 5 to reopen by late January.
Fleming said the province is "reasonably optimistic" that enough repairs can be completed to allow commercial traffic on the highway in about two months' time.
"I do have to caution that the weather will be a factor and a key consideration in determining whether we can reach that target," the minister said.
"When we do open up, obviously, like other highways that have been impacted, it won't be business as usual on the Coquihalla," he added. "There will be two segments, each 20-to-30 kilometres in length, where the highway will have to have reduced speeds and only one lane in each direction will be possible."
Fleming said "about 20 sites" along the highway were damaged or washed away along a 130-kilometre corridor.
"This is going to be a daunting task to get that highway back to being fully operational, but I'm pleased to report that the work has begun," he said. "Right now, we have around 100 pieces of equipment working around the clock to restore temporary access as fast as possible."
The minister thanked work crews and contractors for their efforts on Highway 5 and other highways around the province.
"We've never seen anything like this in B.C. in terms of how many highways have been impacted all at once," he said. "We have 200 sites across the South Coast and Interior that were impacted. Some of these highways are vital for the movement of essential goods, but all of them are vital for the people who live and travel in these areas."
Highway 5, also known as the Coquihalla Highway, is the fastest and most-travelled vehicle route between B.C.'s Fraser Valley and the Interior cities of Kelowna and Kamloops.
Other highways between the Lower Mainland and the Interior, including Highway 1, Highway 3 and Highway 99, were also closed by landslides during the deadly storm. Highway 3 and Highway 99 have since reopened, with travel restrictions, and portions of Highway 1 have also reopened, though that route does not yet connect the Interior to the Lower Mainland.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.