1 Year 1. From south to north, the following intersections are observed along Highway 5:[29][30], Highway 5 passing through Thompson Plateau. Highway 97C then travels 6 km (4 mi) west from Ashcroft to where it converges with Highway 1, which takes Highway 97C north for its final 5 km (3 mi) to its end at Highway 97 in Cache Creek. Walloper Hwy 5, about 30 km south of Kamloops, looking to the south. The heartache in Daviss voice was palpable as he described the accident scene. [12] In response to strong opposition from the public, and numerous businesses, in the Interior of British Columbia, the provincial government shelved the move three months later. Sunshine and clouds mixed. Think AWD makes you invincible in the show? The list goes on. The Smasher. Compact snow. Thanks for reading. [21] Global News listed the stretch between Merritt and Hope as one of the deadliest highways in BC. Coquihalla Highway is one of the worst roads in winters Coquihalla Highway is an extreme freeway located in British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province. Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Driving the Smasher on the Coquihalla highway mid winter 2011 Astronomer Paul 187 subscribers Subscribe 68K views 11 years ago A cruise over the summit of the Coquihalla highway and down the. Compact snow. Thanks for your comment anonymous. Chance of snow 50%. Chance of snow 60%. To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. Compact snow. Although the Yellowhead Highway system is considered part of the Trans-Canada Highway network, Highway 5 is not represented with a Trans-Canada marker. On the one hand, you have the Othello Tunnels, which is what the park is most known for; on the other hand, you have the park's epic geology, rushing water and beautiful flora. Wow, is David Poile ever rolling out the red carpet for his GM successor Barry Trotz. The government website you provide states that the entire Coquihalla highway (i.e., Hope to Kamloops) is restricted. But how well do you know this stretch of highway? major incident | last updated Fri Mar 3 at 4:53 PM PST. On November 14, 2021, a major storm in southern British Columbia damaged sections of the Coquihalla Highway and other routes in the area. to have this designation. Low -11C. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. We have sent this question forward to the area operations manager for review. In the line The Coquihalla averages 1,350mm of precipitation of which 1,150mm falls as snow, below the graph, you might want to change the units of measure. Highway rescuer Jamie Davis recounts tales from one of Canada's fiercest winter roads. Partly cloudy early, then some snow showers later in the day. Today. Low -9C. How confusing! The numbers are in general much higher than the corresponding 3.3 million KM quoted for the Coquihalla. A welcome email is on its way. This rock is a good platform for spearing salmon. Partly cloudy in the morning followed by periods of snow showers later in the day. [3] Now free to drive, at the Coquihalla Lakes junction, the highway crosses from the Fraser Valley Regional District into the Thompson-Nicola Regional District. We hope that this is helpful. 1244 m.) is a highway summit along the Coquihalla Highway in British Columbia, Canada. The highway, varying between four and six lanes, is pretty good, some sections have frost heaves and uneven pavement but it's 2 lanes each way so slower traffic like trucks are not an issue. Snow showers. But how well do you know this stretch of highway? Stay tuned. They dont look quite as dapper after chilling roadside a few hours. Do you have information to supply? The area retains some remnants of the Kettle Valley Railway which travelled this route from early 1900s until 1961. The Coquihalla highway. 1,244m or 4,081ft) is a highway summit along the Coquihalla Highway in British Columbia, Canada. And what is the % gradient? Despite recent challenges on the lower portion of the highway, the Coquihalla does indeed remain a marvel of engineering. Jan 30, 2013 Surrey, BC 0 This is The Smasher on BC's Coquihalla Highway. Along with adequate provisions to maintain ones warmth and energy, there are the obvious car-related preparations, such as proper snow tires. Job Listing Rules. High 3C. Variable clouds with snow showers. The speed limit is 100km/h (62mph) for the most part except in towns, where it can drop to as low as 50km/h (31mph). I am now glued to the TV show Highway Thru Hell and have a much better understanding of the miss-adventures of travel along the Coquihalla and how easily accidents can happen. Its not like bombing around in Vancouver or Toronto, says Davis. North of the Highway 8 junction, Highway 97C goes north for 42 km (26 mi) to Logan Lake, then northwest for 57 km (35 mi) to Ashcroft on the Canadian National Railway. Thanks for your message. Highway 5 was the only highway in British Columbia to have tolls; a typical passenger vehicle toll was C$10. el paso community college international students. [1] It is the highest point on the highway between the cities of Hope and Merritt. I am puzzled by the statistic Annual vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT): 3.3 million which appears in the page about the Coquihalla. NO highway should be demonized because of the idiots who dont know what they are doing. That's a LOT of white stuff coming down. High avalanche hazard between the start of Highway 5 and Exit 286: Merritt - 97C for 109.3 km (Hope to Merritt). [8], In 2003, Premier Gordon Campbell announced the Liberal government would turn over toll revenue to a private operator, along with responsibility for operation, and maintenance of "the Coq". Terms | [7] The three phases have been credited with transforming Merritt into an important transportation hub between the coast and interior, as well as significant growth in both Kamloops and the Okanagan due to improved accessibility. Southbound travelers please use Britton creek rest Area exit 228. The weather today in Coquihalla Thursday, 02 March 2023 . Rule of thumb conversion from water equivalent to snowfall is about 10:1, so that would have been approximately 1150 cm of snow, but we were talking precipitation, not snow depth. The travel time between Hope to Kamloops is approximately 2 hours. The Coquihalla Highway, which appears to have snapped in two, is one of B.C.'s most important highways since it connects the city of Vancouver to the province Interior. 5+ Years, Please select ALL of your current, valid drivers licenses. Cookie Policy | Do you know any spectacular road?Click here to send us all the info, and we'll publish it! Sign up to receive Driving.ca's Blind-Spot Monitor newsletter on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Heres a blog we wrote about our avalanche program and with a video of an controlled avalanche completed using a helicopter: http://tranbc.ca/2016/03/24/what-its-like-to-watch-an-avalanche-from-a-helicopter/. The data and electronic links provided in this web site are for informational purposes only and bchighway.com disclaims all responsibility for the accuracy of site content or linked information. Appreciate the suggestion. Traffic volumes thin out at that exit and shortly afterwards Highway 5 narrows to a 2 lane undivided road. The tunnel entrance of the mountain pass on B.C.s Highway 5. tap here to see other videos from our team. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); This 'travel news' services website is privately owned. Without knowing exactly the location you are referring to exactly, we would guess that is what youve seen. Periods of rain except periods of snow near the summit. Hes animated and passionate when he talks about what he has seen, and is genuinely concerned for the well-being of all folks travelling the Highway Thru Hell, whether by car or by Freightliner. Some decrease in clouds late. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of snow 60%. Families headed for ski trips, folks on business, and of course the inept holiday traveller so well-satirized by Clark Griswold in National Lampoons Vacation series. Hello Greg. Parts of the Coquihalla Highway were washed away in heavy rains near the Caroline Mine area close to Hope, B.C. Southern Yellowhead Highway 5, southbound. Now they just drop bombs from the helicopters in the exact location of the avalanche hazard. We encountered an issue signing you up. Dont travel at night. The highway is particularly dangerous during winter seasons, with extreme snowfall that can exceed more than 10 centimetres (4in) per hour. Crews will have cleared the road, and youll be fresh., Davis goes on to say that the weather on the Coq, and in fact all mountain roads, can change in 20 minutes or less, and all the best forecasts can be wrong you just dont know.. On December 20, 2021, the Coquihalla Highway was reopened to essential traffic, with non- essential traffic being diverted towards Highway 99. Each company we work with has specific experience requirements for their drivers. His "conviction that the route provided important benefits and an essential link to B.C. You'll Have to go to the Southern Ocean off Antarctica, Dont Miss Springs Last Full Moon, the Strawberry Moon, Tropical Storm Cristobal Develops in Bay of Campeche, Cobbler Designs New Shoes for Social Distancing in Romania, ISS Crosses in Front of the Moon Captured in Rare Video, Cars Washed Away in El Salvador During Tropical Storm Amanda, England Cliff Collapse Leaves Houses Dangling, Murder Hornets Popping Up in New Places, Flooding Nightmare in Bangladesh Week after Cyclone Amphan, Heavy Rain Triggers Disastrous Mudslides in Southwestern China, Mosaic Floor Dating Back to the Roman Empire Discovered in Italy, Ancient Mass Extinction Linked to Collapsed Ozone Layer, India Under Attack From Insects, Outbreak and Oppressive Heat, Winters May Lose Its Punch as Climate Change Reduces Snowstorms. Heffley Creek indicates the northern boundary of Kamloops, the exit to Sun Peaks resort is at the same turn off. Winds S at 10 to 15 km/h. Many of the catastrophic mistakes he bears witness to involve typical cars and SUVs rather than big rigs. According to St:l oral history, the skw'exweq (water babies, underwater people) who inhabit a pool close by the rock, would swim out and pull the salmon off the spears, allowing only certain fisherman to catch the salmon."[2]. The highway has since been fully reopened, allowing full traffic from Hope to Kamloops. People often leave after work not realizing that as the sun goes down the temperature drops, and the storm starts. Highway 5, southbound. 5 day. Old toll plaza washrooms closed. I saw this in the Vancouver Province this morning and wondered if it could be true it was easy to trace it to this web page. High 2C. won't privatize Coquihalla Highway", "Alberta highway shouldn't claim Coquihalla", "Actions to improve safety on B.C. 1-5 Months The B.C. GENERAL STATS Safe travels. This information obtained from bchighway.com should not be used as a basis for making financial or other commitments. Can you tell me the amount of fatalities on this pass since it opened? Highway 97C. We want your experiences too! The Coquihalla Highway is one of the province's busiest mountain passes. Coquihalla Box Canyon North Hwy 5, near Box Canyon Chain-up Area, looking north. [27] [7] In order to offset the cost of fast-tracking construction, Phase 1 was made a toll highway, with a toll plaza constructed at the summit of Coquihalla Pass; was designed to accommodate 13 toll booths for 14 lanes of traffic. Comstock Highway 5 at Comstock Rd, about 15 km south of Merritt, looking to the north. Winds NE at 10 to 15 km/h. What are the round cement bunker like structures along the highway?? The 52-year-old has built up such a reputation that truckers say when his green rig shows up, there is nothing to worry about anymore. A single-vehicle crash has closed the left lane of southbound traffic on the Coquihalla Highway, at the Zopkios brake check, Saturday morning. Single lane alternating traffic will be in effect. Highway 5, in both directions. Thanks for your comment! A long steep 8%. Thanks for your comment. Low -4C. City folk drive out of Vancouver and forget that they have to go through a mountain pass, halfway up they are at the point of no return and arent equipped. And thats when things go wrong. 61 km (38 mi) and five interchanges later, the Coquihalla enters the city of Merritt at its south junction with Highway 5A and Highway 97C. Highway 5, in both directions. High 1C. [18] In June 2016, the province implemented a variable speed limit corridor around the Coquhalla Summit Park to increase safety during adverse conditions.[19]. 's Interior helped to convince reluctant Cabinet members of the necessity of the third route to the Interior". The original statistic should have read 3.3 million annual VKT/km, instead of 3.3 million annual VKT. 1,150mm is a measly 1 meter and 15 cm . Winds NE at 10 to 15 km/h. Hope that this information is helpful. as rain batters province, leading to mudslides and flood warnings", "Relentless rain causing flooding, road closures and evacuations across B.C. This group is for the idiots that drive the Coquihalla Highway that think they are experts drivers. High -1C. We used to use the guns for avalanche control in the area, but the ministry now use helicopters to detonate explosives and trigger controlled avalanches. We are looking into this for you. Go prepared, or go home. Stunning scenery and an engineering marvel. The Coquihalla was closed north of Hope on Sunday due to the July Creek wildfire, which jumped the highway and merged with the Brook Creek blaze on the other side. It is largely a two-lane undivided road, with some rare three- or four-lane sections for passing, although work has been constantly underway (especially in the Heffley CreekClearwater section) to create more passing opportunities. Although it is scenic and modern built, it poses many travel hazards. Highway 5 begins south at the junction with Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3) at uninhabited Othello, 7km (4mi) east of Hope (named after a nearby siding on the Kettle Valley Railway, which used many Shakespearean names). We hope that this information is helpful. can be used for maintenance on other BC highways. You've probably driven it a few times, whether as a commuter or a BC traveller, or TONS of times as a commercial driver. But being its a high mountain road, you have to be prepared and drive to the conditions. Low around -10C. High -1C. Tomorrow. #Coquihalla 2:20pm March 3 The Coquihalla approximately traces through the Cascade Mountains the route of the former Kettle Valley Railway, which existed between 1912 and 1958. Scattered snow showers during the evening. Coquihalla Box Canyon South Hwy 5, near Box Canyon Chain-up Area, looking south. Chance of snow 30%. It is so-named because near Hope, it generally follows the Coquihalla River, for about 60 km (37 mi), and uses the Coquihalla Pass. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. kamloops to merrit is absolutely treacherous right now, blowing blizzards and low vis, i can imagine the smasher will be 10x worse Wait until morning. Hes the constant that can be relied upon when self-reliance runs out. The section of highway between Merritt and Kamloops is 72km (45mi) long. an accident) or some other factor? Winds NE at 10 to 15 km/h. The ascent to the Coquihalla Summit is very steep, especially from the south. Hi Sarah, Stay tuned. Larson Hill N Hwy 5 at Larson Hill, 36 km south of Merritt, looking to the north. Elkhart East Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 25 km east of Hwy 5A/97C Junction, looking east. Zopkios Northbound N Hwy 5, northbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit looking to the north. Traffic volume on this section of highway is low compared to the Coquihalla and Kamloops sections of Highway 5. government for a new highway route to Hope, including a vehicle caravan that was staged eight times starting in 1963, over the abandoned Kettle Valley Railway grade, in order draw attention to the potential of this route. Signs along the Coquihalla Highway frequently warn drivers to be aware of sudden changes in weather. Our BC HighwayCams also have a weather feature on each cam which will give you an idea of forecasted weather along the route. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 km/h. Exit numbers on the Coquihalla are a continuation of those on Highway 1 west of Hope as it is an extension of the freeway that starts in Horseshoe Bay. 2 Years Snow deposit removal between Brenda Mine Rd and Pennask Summit for 10.1 km (Pennask Summit). Chance of snow 50%. Nighttime driving is the worst for this, and the most dangerous. Mountain pass in British Columbia, Canada, Southern approach to Coquihalla Summit as viewed from, List of mountain passes of the Cascade Range, "Editorials: Farewell to a prime politician", "Coquihalla Highway reopens after massive avalanche control operation", BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways Infopage, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coquihalla_Summit&oldid=1138202497, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from November 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 14:53. It encompasses 5,750 hectares (14,200 acres) of forested mountain slopes stretching from Portia Peak in the southwest to Coquihalla Lakes in the northeast. 4 Years It is so-named because near Hope, it generally follows the Coquihalla River, for about 60km (37mi), and uses the Coquihalla Pass. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 km/h. Theres no help around the corner, so you must rely upon your own smarts to survive. Highway 97C, in both directions. Davis is from a hauling family, learning the ropes at an early age from his parents before establishing his first towing firm with his brother in the 1980s. Low -4C. Brace yourself winter is here. Aspen Grove North Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), at Hwy 5A Junction, near Aspen Grove, looking north. It is the highest point on the highway between the cities of Hope and Merritt. Here is a link with more information on BC highways and cycling restrictions: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/cycling/cycling-regulations-restrictions-rules. Davis strongly discourages driving at night. I was hoping you could either confirm or deny this. [9] The opening celebrations featured a ceremony in Hope followed by a convoy led by premier Bennett in an open air convertible that smashed through paper banners strung across the new highway lanes, stopped at the Coquihalla summit to dedicate a time capsule, and continued to Merritt for further celebrations. Coquihalla Great Bear Snowshed N Hwy 5, Great Bear Snowshed looking to the north. Why pay for it again? I think that publishing the annual VKT would be more meaningful to the general public. The length of the Coquihalla, per construction phase: vs. the old Highway 3 Route from Kelowna area you save approximately 70km of travel or/and an 1h30mins, vs the old Fraser Canyon Route (Trans Canada) from Kamloops via the TCH you save approximately 70km and 1h 10mins, Phase 1 opened in May 1986 (Hope to Merritt), Phase 2 was completed on Sept 4, 1987 (Merritt toKamloops), Phase 3 was completed on Oct 1, 1990 (The Coquihalla Connector from Merritt toWest Kelowna), Named the Coquihalla because it generally follows the Coquihalla River and uses the Coquihalla Pass.