B.C. hits new flood repair milestone on Highway 1

LYTTON, B.C. – Crews repairing critical B.C. routes damaged by winter rainstorms have reached another major milestone.

Officials announced Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon is now open to all vehicle traffic.

“This restores a major route connecting the Lower Mainland to B.C.’s interior and north, helping the movement of people and goods,” said the province in a press release. “Repairs to the highway were completed, despite the record snowfalls, avalanche risks and cold temperatures over the past few weeks.”

Officials noted that depending on the destination, drivers travelling through the route should plan for delays of up to two hours or more. This is due to ongoing repairs, an at-grade train crossing and sections of single-lane alternating traffic, which includes a temporary single-lane bridge at Jackass Mountain and Nicomen River crossing.

“We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of the crews and staff who have put in long hours to make the repairs necessary to reopen Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon,” said Rob Fleming, minister of transportation and infrastructure, in a statement. “The construction and engineering accomplishments to get people and goods moving again after the highway sustained such heavy damage are nothing short of remarkable.”

The single-lane temporary bridge installed at Jackass Mountain is approximately 80 metres long and is in an area where a large section of two-lane road was destroyed. The province added because the bridge is in a known avalanche zone, drivers will have a pilot-car service for approximately four kilometres to guide them through this section.

For truckers travelling on this route, the highway will be open to legal width and weight loading. However, loads will be limited to 25 metres in length until the rehabilitation of the highway bridge at Nicomen River is complete.

The avalanche risk in the Fraser Canyon is also high this year. Drivers can expect closures on short notice for avalanche control and cleanup. People are asked to plan accordingly, with warm clothes, food and water, and a full tank of gas. For the most up-to-date information before travelling, visit: https://drivebc.ca/