A look at the southbound lanes of the Coquihalla at the Zopkios Rest Area on March 3, 2023. (Photo via Drive BC)
Editors note: This story has been update here.
UPDATE 4:15 p.m. – The Coquihalla between Hope and Merritt will be closed overnight Friday due to a risk of avalanche.
Drive BC says there is avalanche control work planned for Saturday morning, March 4, which will followed by any cleanup work that is required.
“Crews continue to clear snow in anticipation of an opening early afternoon Saturday,” Drive BC said, in a statement.
The highway was initially closed in both directions at about 5:30 a.m. due to a crash at the Ladner Creek Bridge. The northbound lanes were reopened around 7:30 a.m. before the highway was closed again around 10:30 a.m. Friday.
As of around 2:45 p.m., the Transportation Ministry said over 70 cms of snow had fallen on that stretch of the highway in the last 24 hours, far more that what was forecasted.
Drivers looking to get to or from the Lower Mainland can detour onto either Highway 1 or Highway 3, though they’re warned of significant delays on both highways.
Drive BC expects the next update to come at 1 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.
⛔UPDATE – #BCHwy5 CLOSED in both directions between #HopeBC and #Merritt extreme avalanche conditions. Avalanche control for Sat morning. Next update 1pm Sat March 4. #Coquihalla
ℹ️For more info: https://t.co/ULRwQb2hi6
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) March 4, 2023
Snow removal near the Zopkios brake check on the Coquihalla. (Photo via BC Transportation)
