Highway 99 reopens after multiple days closed due to mudslide
Highway 99 has reopened between Pemberton and Lillooet, the provincial Ministry of Transportation announced Saturday afternoon.
The highway had been closed since the evening of Dec. 1 due to mudslides.
The ministry says weight restrictions are in place on the route from just north of Pemberton through to Lillooet.
"Regular passenger vehicles such as cars, SUVs, vans and trucks under a gross vehicle weight of 14,500 kilograms are able to travel on this corridor, but commercial vehicles cannot be safely accommodated," the ministry's statement reads.
Highway 99 is also one of several routes between the Lower Mainland and the B.C. Interior that are restricted to essential travel only. The ministry says checkpoints will be in place to enforce travel restrictions.
"The highway infrastructure is vulnerable following recent storms," the ministry said. "The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is monitoring the weather and the performance of the highway. People should be aware that Highway 99 and others could be closed at any time if conditions change."
The stretch of highway that was closed for much of this week is the same stretch where at least four people died in mid-November, when the first of a series of storms passed over the area, triggering a massive mudslide.
A fifth person is missing and presumed dead.
There were no injuries reported after the latest mudslide, but the ministry said there was a "substantial" amount of debris that needed to be cleaned off the road before it could be reopened.
Highway 99 was one of three highways between the Lower Mainland and the Interior that reopened with restrictions after the mid-November storm.
It was then closed again, pre-emptively, as additional storms battered the province last weekend.
The highway had only been open for a few hours on Wednesday, Dec. 1, before the latest slides forced it to close again.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Canada Post’s newest stamp features special cookies for Islamic holiday
Canada Post’s newest specialty stamps feature “melt-in-your-mouth” desserts to mark two Islamic festivals, the crown corporation announced Thursday.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Statistics Canada reports real GDP up 0.6 per cent in January as Quebec strikes end
Canada's real gross domestic product grew 0.6 per cent in January, helped by the end of public sector strikes in Quebec in November and December, Statistics Canada said Thursday.
Ukrainian child asylum seekers in St. John’s get class of their own
Roughly 50 children will gathered in a St. John’s classroom for the first time on Saturday for unique lessons on Ukrainian language, culture and history.