B.C. highways: 2 routes reopen for essential travel after weekend closures
Two highway routes that were pre-emptively closed over the weekend have reopened, B.C.'s transportation ministry announced Monday.
More atmospheric rivers in the southern part of the province led the transportation ministry to close Highways 1, 3 and 99 over the weekend as a precaution. But on Monday, Highway 3 and 99 were reopened to essential travel.
"Due to ongoing cleanup and repairs, drivers can expect delays on this section of Highway 3," the transportation ministry said in a statement.
Initial closures came following an intense storm two weeks ago that sent mud, rocks and trees into roadways. Those slides killed at least four people near Lillooet, with one person still missing and presumed dead. Hundreds more were stranded in their vehicles in various locations.
While some highways eventually reopened, those three were closed again on Saturday.
"We are constantly assessing the status of closed highways," Minister of Transportation Rob Fleming said Monday. When we get engineers in there to make a safety determination when it is safe to travel again, we will reopen those highways."
Even with Highways 3 and 99 open again, drivers could face fines if they aren't travelling for an essential reason. Last Tuesday, BC Highway Patrol said in a statement that checkpoints would be in place on Highway 99, Highway 3, Highway 1 and Highway 7.
Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth confirmed Monday those travel orders are still in place indefinitely.
Highway 1 between Abbotsford and Chilliwack remains closed, as does the highway through the Bridal Falls area.
"With more heavy rains forecast we will continue to monitor all of our highways in the region," Fleming said. "Unless it is absolutely necessary, I would encourage you to stay off the roads through this next storm event."
As of Monday morning, these were the highway conditions in southern B.C., specifically related to recent floods and landslides. Not all road closures are reflected in this list and DriveBC's traffic page may have the most up-to-date information.
Highway 1
- Closed between Exit 90 and Exit 109 (Abbotsford to Chilliwack) due to flooding.
- Closed between Exit 138 and Exit 165 (Hope to east of Chilliwack) due to heavy rainfall and risk of debris flow.
- Open with travel advisory between Exit 170 and Kahmoose Road (south of Jackass Mountain Summit to Hope).
- Closed between Junction Highway 12 and Junction Highway 8 (Lytton to Spences Bridge) due to rock slide.
- Closed between Kahmoose Road and Main Street (Lytton to south of Jackass Mountain Summit) due to flooding and mudslide.
- Open with single-lane alternating traffic between Little River Road and Lindburg Road (east of Chase) due to rock slide.
Highway 11
- Closed between Hazelwood Avenue and Townshipline Road (Abbotsford) due to flooding.
Highway 3
- Open for essential travel only between Hope and Princeton. Checkpoint in place.
Highway 5
- Closed between Hope and Merritt due to washouts.
Highway 7
- Open for essential travel only between Glasgow Avenue and Ross Road (Mission to Hope). Checkpoint in place.
Highway 8
- Closed between Highway 8 and Petit Creek Road (west of Merritt to Spences Bridge) due to washout.
Highway 99
- Open between Lil'wat Place and Seton Lake Road (north of Pemberton to Lillooet) for essential travel only. Checkpoint in place.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Ian Holliday
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.