B.C. Interior cut off from Lower Mainland due to mudslides

The Okanagan remained cut off from the Lower Mainland Monday after several highway closures due to mudslides. This, after relentless rain.

Connections to the B.C. Interior were closed because of rock and mud debris including Highway 5 – the Coquihalla - between Hope and Merritt. Two mudslides there sealed off the key route earlier Sunday.

The closure is between Exit 202 and 217.

Initially, traffic was being diverted to Highway 3, but later that too was closed because of a mudslide east of Hope at Sunshine Valley.

A Ministry of Transportation spokesperson said Monday morning a helicopter fly-over was planned over the affected part of the Coquihalla Highway and there were initial reports of some damage to the roadway. It was not clear how badly damaged it was.

Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon was also closed in both directions due to rocks on the road north of Yale, while eastbound traffic on the same route in Chilliwack was cut by a mudslide. The hope is this stretch of highway can be re-opened by 5 p.m. Monday, according to the Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth.

Drive BC was expected to give updates later Monday morning and early afternoon.

An additional 30 mm of rain is expected today. Approximately 150 mm of rain has fallen this weekend. The rain will transition to snow Monday afternoon as a cold front crosses the region.

Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads.