Drivers headed to the Interior stranded as snow closes highways
Posted December 20, 2019 11:18 am.
Last Updated December 20, 2019 5:29 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Heavy snow and brutal road conditions are leaving drivers attempting to make it into the Interior stranded, with some major routes closed until further notice.
Many drivers were stuck in Hope after the Coquihalla between there and Merritt closed and Highway 3 were shut down between there and Princeton.
That means the Home Restaurant in Hope is slammed, and Kitchen Manager Shawn Hannah is hearing horror stories from customers who are lined up out the door.
“It’s horrible, absolutely horrible. They closed the Coquihalla and the Hope-Princeton has been shut down since this morning. It’s just not worth driving, don’t even take the chance. Anybody without snow tires is in big, big trouble,” he says. “A lot of customers come in here and they’ll say the highway’s a real mess, there’s cars all over the place, it’s just really frightening. A lot of them come in, they’re really scared and shaken and that.”
Meanwhile, Michael Ballingwall with Big White Ski Resort is hopeful crews will get the roads cleared soon.
“It’s just when the snow comes as fast as it did last night, you’re going to have some problems. The 18-wheelers have to chain up, everyone has to play by the rules. If that happens, I think we’re going to have a great holiday season.”
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