One major B.C. highway has been reopened after an avalanche but another may remain closed all weekend because of the danger of slides.
Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon said Friday the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt can't be cleared for travel because of extreme weather.
"I apologize to the public and the trucking community for the inconvenience but we are not going to put lives at risk by opening it prematurely,'' Falcon said. "We are asking the public to utilize Highway 1 and Highway 3.''
As soon as the weather clears, crews will work to control the avalanche risk, Falcon said.
"But at this point the Coquihalla from Hope to Merritt is going to remain closed, likely for the weekend.''
The route was hit by an avalanche on Thursday and while the snow was cleared, crews haven't been able to do other avalanche control work along the highway.
Falcon said the Coquihalla received 50 centimetres of snow over a six-hour period, whipped up by 80-kilometre an hour winds.
Meanwhile, the Trans-Canada Highway is open again through the Fraser Canyon after a small slide was cleared north of Hope.
With files from The Canadian Press
