The ascent is particularly steep after passing northbound through the Great Bear snow shed. High avalanche hazard between the start of Highway 5 and Exit 286: Merritt - 97C for 109.3 km (Hope to Merritt). Utility work planned between Harmon Rd and Vavenby Bridge Rd (Vavenby). Earlier, a witness shared photos of another section that appeared to be washed away near the Othello Tunnels. Does an agency record statistics for the number of highway road closures per year? Aspen Grove North Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), at Hwy 5A Junction, near Aspen Grove, looking north. If theres anyone qualified to deliver a life-saving rant to those tackling Canadas winter highways, its got to be Davis. High 2C. el paso community college international students. But thats not the entire story because there are signs on the highway directing bicyclists, so clearly it can be used. NO highway should be demonized because of the idiots who dont know what they are doing. There are remnants of a few structures which might be visible along this stretch: Avalanche bunkers where avalanche techs might have set up and used older military style explosives to trigger avalanches in the area; avalanche benches which are installed to stop the flow of snow onto the highway; or there is also the remnants of an old telecommunications gondola, which carried service workers up to the peak of Dog Mountain back in the day. In 1876 the Hope-Nicola Trail was built. According to ICBC there were 32 fatal crashes between 2004 and 2013, and an estimated 400-500 accidents occur during the winter seasons. [7], On May 16, 1986, Phase 1 was officially opened and Highway 5 was re-routed between Hope and Merritt; its construction required 31 bridges and underpasses and over 3.7million tonnes (4,100,000 short tons) of gravel. Thanks for your questions. On December 20, 2021, the Coquihalla Highway was reopened to essential traffic, with non- essential traffic being diverted towards Highway 99. Coquihalla Summit - Hwy 5, about 7 km north of Zopkios Brake Check, looking south. People often leave after work not realizing that as the sun goes down the temperature drops, and the storm starts. Davis strongly discourages driving at night. Snow level 1200 metres lowering to 900 metres in the afternoon. Coquihalla Conditions for Hwy 5 Coquihalla highway & Hwy 97C Okanagan connector for today. The Coquihalla is one of the most popular highway mountain passes in BC. Members are encouraged to submit articles about driving the Coquihalla. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Over the course of November 14 and 15, some 200 millimetres (7.9in) of rain fell along the route of the Coquihalla. Road closed. Forecast issued: 3:45 PM PST Monday 6 February 2023. 2.2m members in the Roadcam community. Its an interesting stretch of highway that comes with its unique challenges but our district staff and maintenance contractors will continue to monitor the Coquihalla and keep you moving as efficiently and as safely as possible. Check Weather and Road Conditions at the Great Bear Snowshed Highway Cam Road Condition Reports for the Coquihalla Hwy5 and Highway 97C Winds NE at 10 to 15 km/h. Cookie Policy | Please try again, 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. Chance of snow 60%. [2] After 10 years in office, Waterland retired from the Cabinet in 1986 a few months after seeing this part of the project through to its completion. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. government privatizing toll highway", "B.C. Hi there this information is availabel via the DataBC DriveBC catalogue here:https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/historical-drivebc-events Canadian Covid -19 Emergency border measures have ended. 5+ Years, Please select ALL of your current, valid drivers licenses. Heres a blog we wrote about our avalanche program and with a video of an controlled avalanche completed using a helicopter: http://tranbc.ca/2016/03/24/what-its-like-to-watch-an-avalanche-from-a-helicopter/. It also provides highway travellers opportunities for viewing granite peaks, wildlife and historic features such as the Kettle Valley Railway and old Coquihalla Highway, both of which were earlier routes through the area.[5][3]. It requires skill to drive. At high elevations it can sometimes get to be -30 deg. Too much horsepower with too little brains. Although it is scenic and modern built, it poses many travel hazards. Highway 5 begins south at the junction with Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3) at uninhabited Othello, 7km (4mi) east of Hope (named after a nearby siding on the Kettle Valley Railway, which used many Shakespearean names). 1,244m (4,081ft) Coquihalla Pass. Chance of snow 40%. Ran it opening day may long weekend in 86 no signs for brake check at top of smasher it was quite the ride coming over the top at 100 km apparently motor ways put 6 in the runaway lanes that week so I was told. Signs along the Coquihalla Highway frequently warn drivers to be aware of sudden changes in weather. Coquihalla Summit (el. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 km/h. Highway 5. which shows MVKM (Million Vehicle Kilometres) for many highway segments. an accident) or some other factor? Tucked away in southern British Columbia, make sure you get your vehicle and yourself well-prepared before driving this road. At the top of this website, you provided good general statistical information. Partly cloudy. What you see are likely the old avalanche howitzer guns and bases that are roadside within avalanche paths. Starting Thu Mar 9 at 9:00 AM PST until Thu Mar 9 at 4:00 PM PST. Pothole Lake East Highway 97C Weather Cameras (Okanagan Connector), near Pothole Lake about 7 km east of Aspen Grove, looking east. where is the smasher on the coquihalla. Trucks have been known to avoid the route, but most motorists don't have any hesitation about driving the route in spring-summer-fall conditions. Nighttime driving is the worst for this, and the most dangerous. The Coquihalla Highway starts south of the junction with Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3) situated at the uninhabited region of Othello. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Also the total trips in addition to the average per day these are impressive numbers showing the importance of the Coquihalla to travellers in BC. The B.C. [12] In response to strong opposition from the public, and numerous businesses, in the Interior of British Columbia, the provincial government shelved the move three months later. Winds SE at 10 to 15 km/h. A rescue is currently underway using helicopters to airlift people stuck between two landslides on Highway 7 near Agassiz. Hi there Cass thanks for your question. It also experiences extreme snowfall rates, with accumulation sometimes exceeding 10 cm per hour. They chose to confront the Coq without a full tank, not realizing that idling a car for warmth hour after hour depletes an already dangerously low fuel tank. It soon passes through the community of Valemount where a traffic signal is located. Good info, glad I dont have to drive it this winter (no tourists or school trips!) 35km (22mi) north of Othello, after passing through five interchanges, Highway 5 reaches the landmark Great Bear snow shed. Theres no help around the corner, so you must rely upon your own smarts to survive. The Coquihalla Highway - Phase 1, Hope to Merritt - was completed in time for Expo 86 in 1986. Do you have information to supply? Job Listing Rules. Watch for slippery sections between Exit 202: Portia and Exit 231: Mine Creek Rd for 25.2 km (6 km south of Great Bear Snowshed to 12 km north of Coquihalla Summit). Low -4C. Subscribe to our Blind-Spot Monitor newsletters to catch up on all the top automotive stories of the week, Subscribe to our newsletters to catch up on all the top automotive stories of the week, Best in Class: 7 of the most fuel-efficient SUVs of 2023, Ontario insurer to issue free trackers to oft-targeted cars, Motor Mouth: This patent may be Fords dumbest idea ever, Driving By Numbers: Canada's 10 best-selling electric vehicles in 2022, News Roundup: Free trackers for oft-stolen cars, Canadas top-selling EVs, and more, Surviving B.C. [6], In the 1960s, the Merritt Board of Trade began lobbying the B.C. [8] The project was divided into three phases, with Phase 1 being the 115km (71mi) section between Hope and Merritt, Phase 2 being the 80km (50mi) section between Merritt and Kamloops, and Phase 3 being a 108km (67mi) branch between Merritt and Peachland, south of Kelowna. "The heavy rain will begin to transition to snow this afternoon as a cold front crosses the region and snow levels drop," the weather agency said. We have sent this question forward to the area operations manager for review. Snowfall of 2-3cm. Hes animated and passionate when he talks about what he has seen, and is genuinely concerned for the well-being of all folks travelling the Highway Thru Hell, whether by car or by Freightliner. Construction of this part of the Coquihalla Highway was spearheaded by Tom Waterland as MLA for Yale-Lillooet. [16][17], Effective July 2, 2014, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure increased the speed limit of Coquihalla Highway from 110km/h (68mph) to 120km/h (75mph) after conducting an engineering assessment and province-wide speed review. I have driven the highway dozens of times, the majority being 97C, but lots to Vancouver too. Traffic pattern changed back to 2 lanes each direction. Environment Canada is calling for 15 to 25 centimetres of snow on the Coquihalla on Monday night along the section between Hope and Merritt. [13], On September 26, 2008, the provincial government permanently lifted the Coquihalla tolls, effective 1:00 pm that day. 1. Coquihalla Box Canyon South Hwy 5, near Box Canyon Chain-up Area, looking south. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. kamloops to merrit is absolutely treacherous right now, blowing blizzards and low vis, i can imagine the smasher will be 10x worse Established in 1986 and clocking in at a respectable 159 hectares, Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park is a truly magical place. It should be cm, not mm. thecanadaweather.com Canada British Columbia Coquihalla. The exit numbers on the Coquihalla are a continuation of those on Highway 1 west of Hope. Hes the constant that can be relied upon when self-reliance runs out. Coquihalla Summit S Hwy 5, about 7 km north of Zopkios Brake Check, looking the south.

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