Hwy 3 ‘performing well’, keeping it open ‘vital’: Fleming

As travel along a crucial link between the Interior and Lower Mainland is restored, keeping traffic flowing is ‘vital’ for the provincial government.

Highway 3 reopened late Friday, days earlier than originally expected. It, along with several other major road and rail corridors between the two regions, were severed when an atmospheric river swamped the province nearly one week ago.

The road is restricted to essential traffic only.

Speaking to media Saturday morning, Transport Minister Rob Fleming said the corridor has ‘performed well,’ with a few hundred commercial trucks passing overnight. However, traffic is slow.

Truckers are reporting that trips between warehouses in and around Vancouver to Keremeos in the Interior are taking about nine to 10 hours. That typically takes just five to six hours.

Single lane alternating areas are impacting travel times, Fleming said. Repair work on the highway is not compete, he explained, maintaining there is much more to do.

“I can’t stress enough that keeping this corridor open is vital to British Columbia,” he said. “It is vital to help where certain goods are running short, to get them on the move to communities that are experiencing pinch points in the supply chain.”

Highway 99 has also reopened, but only to essential passenger vehicle traffic. Weight restrictions are also in place, with nothing over 14,500 kg allowed on the road.

Two lanes are open along the route, and maintenance contractors will patrol it, he said.

“Because of the terrain, nothing larger than a cube truck will be allowed on the highway at this time.”

Fleming said both Canadian Pacific and Canadian National Railway are confident connections to the Port of Vancouver and the rest of Canada will reopen by the middle of next week.

When the rail lines do open, national economic interests will be weighed against local needs. Fuel will likely also be given priority, Fleming said.

Supply routes through Washington state have been and remain critical to moving supplies into the Interior and beyond. Fleming expected this to be a long-term solution as timelines to reopen the Trans-Canada and Coquihalla highway are not yet known.

Residents on Vancouver Island and many parts of southwestern B.C. continue to face fuel restrictions of 30 litres per visit to the pump. The order is in place until at least Dec. 1.

Public Safety Minister Mark Farnworth urged continued patience and calm on the situation.

“Is it a challenge? Yes. Is it inconvenient? Of course, it is,” he said. “But it’s also going to get us through this critical period.”