Coquihalla reopens, drivers warned to take it slow

The Coquihalla Highway is back open, but drivers are being warned it’s not business as usual on the major route, which connects the Lower Mainland to Interior B.C.

Highway 5 was shut down for about two months after heavy rainfall, flooded waterways, and landslides caused catastrophic damage to many sections of the route.

RCMP Highway Patrol Cpl. Mike Halskov explains variable speed limits are in place for a number of areas, and says they will be enforced.

“There are a number of areas that are being worked on by highway crews to repair the Coquihalla, meaning there’s going to be work zones, and speed restrictions, and single-lane traffic in places,” he told CityNews Wednesday.

Related articles:

• Coquihalla Highway reopens to regular traffic Wednesday

• Coquihalla Highway reopens to commercial traffic

“Drivers are reminded to slow down and obey the speed limits for those construction zones, and to be wary of the road crew workers out there, who are working in trying conditions, I would imagine, to get this highway back to full operation status.”

Halskov says resources have been deployed as necessary.

He does not expect road checks to be set up, but notes officers will be working with their partners to enforce traffic rules.

Drivers can expect the ride between Hope and Merritt to take about 45 minutes longer than normal due to conditions on the highway, Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said Tuesday.

A look at the #Coquihalla this morning, now that it's open to regular vehicle traffic for the first time since Nov. 14 #BCFlood damage.
Reminder: winter conditions out there, along with travel pattern changes, speed reductions and increased enforcement. Drive Safely. pic.twitter.com/rXnnpAQTZm

— BC Transportation (@TranBC) January 19, 2022

“The Coquihalla, as we all know, is a steep mountainous route and we’ve seen how conditions can change quickly,” Fleming said. “With severe winter weather people should only be on the highway if their vehicle has good winter tires, a full tank of gas, and they have food and water and warm winter clothes with them.”

Initially, the province said in November that the Coquihalla could reopen to commercial traffic “by late January.” The B.C. government then revised its estimated timeline, saying it was “confident that it could instead reopen in early January.”

Highway 5 reopened to commercial traffic on Dec. 20.

You’re reminded that winter tires or chains are required on most highways in B.C., including the Coquihalla, between Oct. 1 and Apr. 30.

With files from Lasia Kretzel