KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Work has begun on restoring access on Highway 1 through the southern interior of the province after wildfire forced closures of sections of the highway.
Highway 1 between Chase and Sorrento at the Blind Bay Road intersection reopened Aug. 25, after closure on Aug. 18 due to the Bush Creek East wildfire.
“Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has been working closely with response agencies, monitoring wildfire risk and activity along the corridor, and supporting evacuation orders. Crews are also working to clear side roads adversely affected by wildfire,” a government of British Columbia release said.
Highway 1 between Boston Bar and Lytton will remain closed through the weekend. This section of highway was closed on Thursday, Aug.17, as the Kookipi Creek fire burned alongside a 10-kilometre section of Highway 1.
The fire burned trees on the bluffs above the highway, resulting in falling trees and boulders along the affected area, including through the Falls Creek (Jackass Mountain) highway reconstruction site.
The ministry has confirmed there was no fire damage to the temporary bridge and other construction works at Falls Creek, and removal of dangerous trees and rock scaling is underway along the corridor. he ministry’s maintenance contractor has begun clearing culverts through the affected area.
As the Kookipi Creek wildfire is still active, progress on highway reopening will depend on the weather and local fire activity, the release stated. The ministry will provide an update on the reopening of this section of Highway 1 on Monday, Aug. 28.
Details on wildfires, and evacuation orders, alerts and restrictions are available online.
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