Photos show avalanche covering part of B.C. highway
Photos posted by the provincial Ministry of Transportation show the debris left behind when an avalanche crashed down on a B.C. highway during avalanche control work.
Highway 37A in northwestern B.C. was closed Wednesday and Thursday for the work near Stewart. The debris brought down by the efforts made the roadway unpassable, though it had already been closed to traffic.
Avalanche technicians and road maintenance crews were brought to the scene for control work and clean-up, the ministry said in a social media post.
Still, the highway was expected to remain closed until at least Thursday afternoon.
During the closure, Avalanche Canada and Parks Canada issued a joint warning for anyone heading into the backcountry in B.C. or Alberta.
The warning issued Thursday and in effect until at least Sunday applies to the Sea to Sky, South Coast Inland, Cariboo, North and South Columbia, Kootenay-Boundary and Purcell regions, as well as Jasper and Glacier national parks.
"Our main concern is a critical weak layer buried about 60 centimetres below the snow surface throughout these regions," Avalanche Canada's James Floyer said in a news release Thursday.
"This layer is deep enough to produce large avalanches, yet shallow enough to be triggered by a human or machine. The forecast of warm temperatures and sun will contribute to this problem this weekend."
37A wasn't the only B.C. highway impacted by the elements this week. Highway 99 was closed for a time due to a mudslide north of Lillooet, but reopened to a single lane of alternating traffic a short time after 8 a.m. Thursday.
Also near Lillooet, Highway 12 was closed for a geotechnical investigation Thursday morning, the Transport Ministry said in a post through its DriveBC Twitter account. Traffic was also open to a single lane only north of Lytton.
And on Wednesday, part of Highway 16 between Prince Rupert and Terrace was closed for a time due to flooding.
On Highway 3, rocks on the road brought the highway to a standstill north of Christina Lake that day as well.
Correction
This article initially suggested the highway was closed because of the avalanche, but it was in fact closed for avalanche control, prior to the avalanche.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Federal funding finally comes through to replace one of Canada’s worst hospitals in the Far North
The federal government is providing $1.2 billion to help build a new hospital complex on the James Bay Coast, easing residents’ fears that construction wouldn’t start this year.
The cooking method you need to learn to get excited about vegetables this fall, expert says
'Eat more vegetables,' doctors and dietitians say over and over. But for many people, it’s hard to do, because they aren’t excited about veggies or just don’t like them.
British leader Starmer's chief of staff quits over reports about salary
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff quit on Sunday, citing concerns that growing news reports about her role 'risked becoming a distraction to the government.'
Tropical Storm Milton could hit Florida as a major hurricane midweek
People across Florida were given notice Sunday that Milton, for now just a tropical storm off the coast of Mexico, could intensify rapidly into a major hurricane before slamming midweek into the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast.
Officer arrested after allegedly stealing alcohol from store: TPS
A Toronto police officer has been arrested after allegedly stealing three bottles of alcohol from a store.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice linked to an increased risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University.
Liberal, Conservative MPs to speak at Oct. 7 march to Parliament Hill
A Liberal MP and a Conservative MP will be part of a team delivering speeches at an event in Ottawa commemorating the one year anniversary of the attacks on Oct. 7.
Son charged with mother's murder on Vancouver Island
Police on Vancouver Island have made an arrest in the case of a 78-year-old woman found dead in her home almost two years ago.
opinion Tips on managing your financial stress
Financial strain can be an uncomfortable burden to bear, especially if you feel that you're doing as much as you can and are barely managing to stay afloat. Personal finance contributor Christopher Liew shares some tips for managing financial stress and digging your way out of debt.