Image Credit: BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

By Adam Donnelly

BC FLOOD

Ministry still assessing damage to Highway 8, working on alternate access for residents

Nov 24, 2021 | 3:48 PM

KAMLOOPS — In a news briefing held today (Nov. 24), the province gave an update on the work ongoing to assess the extent of the damage wrought by high water last week.

Highway 8, which connects Merritt and Spence Bridge, continues to be a major concern. On Tuesday (Nov. 23), Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) Rob Fleming said the highway had been damaged in 18 places along a 46-kilometre stretch.

Today, Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth said the provincial government is working with First Nations Emergency Social Services and the First Nations Health Authority to ensure communities in the affected area aren’t forgotten.

“We’ve also been working in terms of identifying additional routes, such as forest roads for them to be able to access critical areas in their communities,” Farnworth said.

There’s still no timeline on when repairs to Highway 8 will begin. MoTI staff say there’s still a great deal of work to be done to assess the full extent of the damage to that stretch of roadway.

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“We have a team of project managers, engineers, and construction experts that are gathering this week and working closely with Indigenous and community leaders to start looking at options for Highway 8,” Paula Cousins explained. “The damage is extensive, but our first priority is to look at wherever we can gain short-term and temporary access. We hope to have an update for communities next week on where and if we can do that, and when.”

Fleming also said the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is gathering as much information as possible, as they prepare to give a briefing on the status of the Coquihalla Highway in the coming days.