New flood-related B.C. travel order limits trips on Highway 7
A new travel order has been issued by officials in British Columbia limiting which drivers are permitted to use a stretch of Highway 7.
The order, announced by Deputy Premier Mike Farnworth and Transportation Minister Rob Fleming at a news conference Tuesday, applies to the section between Mission and Agassiz.
Use of this section of the highway is now limited to essential travel only. This is an extension of an existing restriction, meaning Highway 7 will be open to essential travel only between Murray Street in Mission and Highway 1 in Hope.
"This order is for the short term," Fleming said, adding that it will come into effect at 8 p.m. so that those who drove to work have the chance to get home.
"It is imperative that we give priority to our essential supply chain, and this is the way that we can do that."
This is similar to the orders issued for B.C. highways 1, 3 and 99 in some locations, and is meant to ensure emergency vehicles and those transporting essential goods can get through.
These rules also allow for evacuees to get home safely. A list of what the province considers essential can be read in previous coverage.
The definition has been updated since to include public transit, charter buses and school buses.
Farnworth said respecting these orders is one way those looking to help British Columbians impacted by the flooding that followed days of rain last week can make a serious impact.
Other ways include carpooling or taking transit to reduce the amount of gas used. Due to supply chain issues, the province is rationing gas already to drivers who need fuel for non-essential trips.
Almost immediately after the rationing rule was announced, gas stations started to sell out.
Fleming said reopening Highway 1, which is still partially closed due to flooding, remains a top priority for B.C., but that the timeline will depend on an upcoming storm scheduled to strike the Lower Mainland later this week.
He said if there is no weather impact, officials should have a sense of when they'll be able to open parts of the Trans-Canada Highway on Wednesday.
Addressing another highway of note, Fleming spoke about an hours-long closure prompted by a washout.
He said Highway 3 was closed pre-emptively, after the ministry deemed it was necessary to get geotechnical engineers to examine a section near Manning Park. The engineers determined the highway could reopen with monitoring systems in place.
"While we have people working around the clock to get these routes open, safety is always going to take precedence as we move forward."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
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 which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.