The Coquihala Highway has re-opened after an eight day shut-down caused by massive avalanches sweeping onto the road.
Rigs started rolling up the highway around eight this morning. A welcomed sight for truckers, particularly those carrying oversized loads not allowed on the Trans-Canada Highway. Truckers say the delays have taken a financial toll.
Lynn Hamman told CTV's Michele Brunoro she is losing other work while sitting in his truck and there isn't anything he can do about it.
Heavy equipment is continuing work on the highway to keep it clear. Fallen trees and other debris from avalanches can still be seen the mountainsides.
Helicopters dropped explosives to break up dangerous slabs of snow which allowed officials to reopen the Lower Mainland's link to B.C.'s Interior.
Truckers used the Trans-Canada Highway through the Fraser Canyon while the Coquilhalla was closed.
Merritt's Mayor, David Laird said he couldn't put a dollar figure beside the shutdown adding, "Basically any of the retail outlets up there were hit 20 to 30 per cent a day."
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Michele Brunoro
