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'Many weeks' for temporary Coquihalla fix, another closure of Hwy3

'Many, many months' for Coquihalla permanent fix

UPDATE: Highway 3 was reported open again at 4 p.m. Monday following a new closure late morning.

It happened between Hope and Princeton and forced a closure of around four hours.

The Ministry of Transportation said late Monday the closure was in order to conduct a geotechnical assessment after pavement cracking was observed about 10 kilometres east of Manning Park Lodge.

The closure area was between Exit 173 and Frontage Road.

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Work is underway on a temporary fix to the Coquihalla, just over a week after an atmospheric river caused massive damage to roads infrastructure across Southern B.C.

However, Transport Minister Rob Fleming, could not give definitive timelines on progress to the ‘Coq’.

“Work is getting underway on temporary repairs and construction access that will allow traffic to start moving,” he said at a Monday media briefing. “And, while plans are also being prepared for permanent rebuilds at multiple sites, we don’t yet have clear timelines there beyond many weeks for the temporary work, and many, many months for the permanent repairs.”

Fleming said there were 250 pieces of heavy equipment deployed across highways severed by landslides and flooding, with the Coquihalla suffering five different washouts.

He said goods have been arriving in the Interior by truck since Highway 3 and Highway 99 were reopened to emergency and essential travel only.

These are two critical routes connecting the Lower Mainland with the Interior and North, using Highways 3 and 7 for heavy commercial traffic, and Highways 97 and 99.

In Kelowna, grocery store shelves across the city were noticeably re-stocked on the weekend following days of panic-buying earlier in the week. The arrival of trucks from the east would also have played a role in the re-supply.

Rail set for reopening

Fleming added crucial Canadian Pacific rail lines through the Interior are expected to be passable within the next day, barring any unforeseen events.

“They are making terrific progress on repairing track that will connect us right through to the Alberta border and the rest of Canada,” Fleming said. “This would be a very important and welcome development for goods movement for our country.”

Meanwhile, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth, reiterated that recently opened highways were restricted for essential travel only.

“If you need to go shopping, please check in on a neighbor to see if you can save someone a trip. People in border communities can also head south to pick up essentials without taking a PCR test upon re-entry,” Farnworth said. “And when I say 'essential', I mean food and fuel, I don’t mean family trips or Black Friday shopping expeditions.”

Asked if anyone was fined for trying to travel the restricted Highway 3 corridor without an essential reason, Minister Fleming said to his knowledge that had not happened. Police were present on various routes but there was no need for enforcement.

“To my knowledge British Columbians followed the orders very well. They’re putting their fellow British Columbians first," Fleming said.

More rain coming

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the North Coast with rain expected to move south later Monday.

Derek Lee, a meteorologist with the agency, said a brief respite from rain is expected Tuesday before another weather system moves in on Wednesday, bringing yet more rain.

Federal employment minister Carla Qualtrough said residents displaced or left unemployed due to the flooding should apply for employment insurance immediately, even if they normally wouldn't.

Flood waters in the Abbotsford area continue to recede allowing the eastbound lanes on Highway 1 between Highway 11 east to Cole Road to be open for emergency access to agricultural operations in the area.

The two eastbound lanes will be used to provide two-way travel. As this is an active construction zone, drivers can expect speed restrictions and traffic control.

With files from The Canadian Press

Published 2021-11-22 by Glenn Hicks

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