UPDATE: Three B.C. highways closed due to weather
UPDATE: 11:00 a.m. Nov. 27
*Highway closures begin at 2 p.m. Saturday*
Due to incoming weather, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is proactively closing highways previously impacted between the Lower Mainland and Interior this afternoon, Nov. 27.
Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton will be closed at 2 p.m. today
Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon and Highway 1 between Popkum and Hope will be closed at 2 p.m. today.
In addition to weather concerns, the closure of Highway 1 between Popkum and Hope is necessary due to reservoir releases by BC Hydro, crucial to protect the Jones Lake Reservoir, which is also being impacted by the heavy rain events.
Highway 99 between Pemberton and Lillooet will be closed at 4 p.m. today.
The highway infrastructure in these areas is extremely vulnerable following recent storm events. More heavy rain in the forecast poses an additional risk.
The duration of closures will depend on the weather. The closures of these three highways will be re-evaluated on Sunday morning, with the highways reopened when safe to do so.
Updates will be posted online: DriveBC.ca
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UPDATE: 4:30 p.m. Nov. 26
Due to incoming weather, B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is proactively closing Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton, and Highway 99 between Pemberton and Lillooet on Saturday afternoon.
Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon will also be closed on Saturday as a precaution. The exact time and duration of closures will depend on the weather.
The province says highway infrastructure in these areas is extremely vulnerable following recent storms, and more heavy rain in the forecast poses an additional risk.
The closures of the three highways will be re-evaluated on Sunday morning, with the highways reopened when it is safe to do so. Updates will be posted online: DriveBC.ca
Highway 1 between Popkum and Hope will also be closed on Saturday afternoon due to reservoir releases by BC Hydro, crucial to protect the Jones Lake Reservoir, which is also being affected by the heavy rains.
A reopening time for Highway 1 between Popkum and Hope is undetermined as it is expected that these combinations of events will result in further damage to Highway 1.
Highway 7 between Mission and Hope remains open with travel restrictions in place. Essential purposes for travel are defined in the travel restrictions order through the Emergency Program Act.
As of 4:30 p.m., Highway 3 was still closed 5 km’s west of Princeton due to a firy crash involving two transports trucks earlier on Friday.
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The main highway link between the Interior and Lower Mainland is currently closed due to what officials are calling a serious accident.
The crash on Highway 3 was 5 kilometres west of Princeton this morning with no estimated time of reopening at this point from DriveBC.
Transportation Minister Rob Fleming told a provincial update Friday that, despite this accident, Highway 3 has proven to be an effective route for essential commercial vehicles to move goods and supplies since reopening last week.
“About 4,000 commercial trucks have traversed that corridor moving the goods and supplies that we need,” said Fleming.
REMINDER – CLOSED – #BCHwy3 in both directions between #HopeBC and #PrincetonBC due to multiple vehicle incidents, estimated opening time and detour unavailable, please obey traffic control. More info: https://t.co/ufax7PC8Tr and https://t.co/guJNKNzGEn
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) November 26, 2021
Highway 1 reopened Thursday in Abbotsford’s Sumas area, and Fleming said traffic has been moving well. The reopening means traffic is able to move again on Highway 1 from Hope to Vancouver.
Fleming advised Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon has seven damaged sites, with four having major damage.
He said temporary repairs are underway including to a large section of two-lane road that was “completely wiped out by a landslide.”
“We are hoping to allow restricted traffic movement by mid January,” said Fleming.
Fleming said Highway 8 near Spences Bridge was “largely destroyed, with damage to 20 sites including four bridges.
“The Nicola River has literally carved a new path, washing away large sections of the highway in the process,” said the Transportation Minister.
Agriculture Minister Lana Popham says the reopening of Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley Thursday has led to more movement of the food supply.
“The access to the B.C. milk supply is increasing and we’re now back up to about 90 per cent of our usual milk supply,” Popham explained.
Popham says Okanagan and Kootenay dairy farms are having their milk delivered to Alberta with sufficient supply for everyone.