Image Credit: Global BC

By Adam Donnelly

BC FLOOD

Work underway to reopen ground travel from Lower Mainland to BC Interior

Nov 16, 2021 | 5:21 PM

KAMLOOPS — Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 16), Transportation Minister Rob Fleming joined the Emergency Management BC media conference to update citizens on the status of highways affected by the storm.

In his operational update, Fleming noted that the top priority is reopening roads that connect the Interior to the Lower Mainland and that those routes are currently being assessed by staff from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI). He says he hopes to have at least one of those routes reopened by the end of the weekend.

“Another priority is regaining access to the interior through Highway 3, which looks to be the quickest route to reopen,” Fleming says, going on to add, “Other routes will clearly take longer, including the Coquihalla and Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon, based on the images people have seen. The infrastructure damage there is significant.”

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure staff completed assessment work on sections of the Coquihalla Highway and Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon. The Coquihalla is the hardest hit, with multiple washouts and structures affected by the floods.

“I can confirm that at least five structures have been compromised and there are multiple washouts along the route,” Paula Cousins, Southern Interior Regional Executive Director with MOTI explains. “That corridor will require significant repairs before traffic will begin to move.”

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Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon has also suffered massive damage and will need major repairs before anyone can travel that route.

“There are washouts south of Lytton at Tank Hill and Jackass Mountain and the Nicomen Bridge has experienced significant damage, as well,” Cousins says.

Meanwhile, clean-up efforts have begun on Highway 99, after a mudslide blocked that route south of Lillooet. However, due to safety concerns, crews can only work during daylight hours which has slowed down the process.

“That work got underway immediately. We have as much equipment working at that site as will allow, and we’ll have a better sense of what the timelines for Highway 99 will be tomorrow (Nov. 17),” Cousins says.