B.C. reopens Highways 3 and 99 to essential travel after weekend storm

Two B.C. highways that were “proactively” closed on Friday ahead of the weekend storm were reopened Monday afternoon, but remain restricted to essential travel.

Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton has reopened, however cleanup and repairs continue and drivers who must use the route should expect delays.

Highway 99 between Pemberton and Lillooet is also open for essential travel only. Only vehicles with a licensed gross vehicle weight under 14,500 kilograms are permitted on that stretch of the route.

Highway 7 between Agassiz and Hope was not closed on Friday, but remains under the same restrictions.

Highway 1 between Abbotsford and Chilliwack still closed
Highway 1 just east of Highway 9 and Hope, through the Bridal Falls area also still closed

— Lasia Kretzel (@rhymeswpretzel) November 29, 2021

The following essential vehicles are exempt from the travel restrictions:

• commercially transporting goods
• transporting essential goods and supplies, specifically:
  • food, water and other beverages
  • fuel and gasoline
  • health-care goods, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies
  • personal hygiene, sanitation and cleaning goods.
• transporting livestock, agricultural or seafood products and supplies
• livestock producers returning to a farm to provide care for animals
• responding to emergencies, including search and rescue operations
• evacuations for medical reasons and urgent medical treatment
• highway repair and maintenance
• transporting essential personnel
• returning to a person’s own principal residence
• exercising an Aboriginal or treaty right as recognized and affirmed by Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

 

Highway 1 between Abbotsford and Chilliwack, which was shut down Sunday afternoon as severe weather continued to wallop southern B.C., remains closed, as does the stretch of road from just east of Highway 9 through the Bridal Falls area.

Related articles:

• B.C. fuel restrictions, provincial state of emergency extended until Dec. 14

• Abbotsford builds dam, braces for more flooding amid series of storms

Meanwhile, the province has announced fuel restrictions will remain in place until at least Dec. 14. The measures, which limit non-essential drivers to 30 litres per visit, were first introduced on Nov. 19 after catastrophic flooding caused a disruption in the transportation of gas across the province.

B.C. has also extended the provincial state of emergency due to flooding.