Parts of B.C. Highways 1, 3 and 99 closed due to storm
Planned closures of highways between the Lower Mainland and the Interior due to the ongoing storm began at 2 p.m. Saturday.
B.C.'s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure had announced Friday that it planned to close portions of Highways 1, 3 and 99 due to the increased risk of flooding and mudslides on those already-damaged routes as another atmospheric river batters the province. The initial announcement did not specify what time the closures would begin.
On Saturday, the ministry confirmed that Highway 1 would be closed in the Fraser Canyon and between Popkum and Hope at 2 p.m.
Highway 3 closed between Hope and Princeton at the same time.
Highway 99 was scheduled to close between Pemberton and Lillooet at 4 p.m., the ministry said Saturday.
"The duration of closures will depend on the weather," the ministry said in a statement. "The closures of these three highways will be re-evaluated on Sunday morning, with the highways reopened when safe to do so."
The three roads being closed Saturday were already limited to essential travel only under the provincial state of emergency. All three suffered significant damage during the devastating storm that struck the province earlier this month, and were reopened with temporary repairs in place.
In its statement, the ministry described the three highways as "extremely vulnerable" to more damage from heavy rain.
The storm hitting the province Saturday is the second in a string of three atmospheric rivers that were expected to bring heavy rain and warm air to B.C.
On Friday, Environment Canada issued an unprecedented "red alert" for parts of the province still recovering from the previous storm, saying already-reeling communities could be especially vulnerable to the effects of rain, melting snow, rising rivers and landslides.
This is a developing story and will be updated
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'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.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Do these exercises for core strength if you can't stomach doing planks
Planks are one of the most effective exercises for strengthening your midsection, as they target all of your major core muscles: the transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, external obliques and internal obliques. Yet despite the popularity of various 10-minute plank challenges, planking is actually one of the most dreaded core exercises, according to many fitness experts.
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.