Coquihalla reopening to all traffic Wednesday

• Trip will take 45 minutes longer than usual
• Additional enforcement on speed and safety
• $45-55 million repair bill so far

The Coquihalla highway will open to all vehicles starting Wednesday, Jan. 19.

The stretch of Highway 5 between Hope and Merritt on the key connection between the Interior and Lower Mainland, has been restricted to commercial traffic only since temporary emergency repairs were completed Dec. 20, 2021.

B.C. Transport Minister Rob Fleming made the announcement during a media briefing Tuesday.

He repeated warnings to the public that "this is not the Coquihalla as we know it" since the atmospheric river in mid-November caused flooding, landslides, and massive destruction.

“Safety for motorists is paramount, “he said. “There will continue to be increased enforcement from the RCMP and Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement (CVSE) on this route to ensure drivers are being safe and that they’re driving to the winter conditions.”

There are travel-pattern changes and reduced speed limits along the highway, with the trip between Hope and Merritt taking about 45 minutes longer than normal.

The ministry stressed this is a high-mountain route that can experience adverse weather and rapidly changing conditions that could require closure with minimal notice.

Meanwhile, Fleming said early estimates for the cost of the emergency repairs on Highway 5 to date run between $45 million and $55 million, although that figure could yet change.

A sum of between $170 million and $220 million has been spent on all highway repairs and associated costs provincewide since the flooding in November.

Fleming did not give an estimate for longer term permanent repairs but said a virtual meeting took place in late November with 300 interested companies and individuals with innovative ideas on how to "build back better." He said the reconstruction process will start in the spring. A list of those who have been pre-qualified to secure a contract has been compiled.

The emergency repairs allowing the re-opening of the Coquihalla back in December came unexpectedly quicker than initial estimates - just 35 days after the disastrous flooding - and Fleming said this latest announcement was also a pleasant surprise.

The flooding and washouts damaged more than 20 sites along a 130 kilometre stretch of highway. This included seven bridges where spans completely collapsed or were otherwise heavily damaged.

Fleming again highlighted the extraordinary scale of the effort from the 300 personnel who’ve been working on the route.

“I think one of things that really made the difference was the level of motivation was through the roof,” he said. “People wanted to be a part of that. They wanted to show that B.C. could rally just as we helped farmers and others affected by flooding … just as we donated to the Red Cross to help people out.”