Weather Coquihalla . Low -9C. Coquihalla Lakes N Hwy 5, 61km south of Merritt, looking to the north. Snowfall amount 5 cm near the summit. Winds NE at 10 to 15 km/h. Highway 5, in both directions. The Southern Yellowhead highway is the northern section of Highway 5, this section is 314km (195mi) long. Safe travels. The ascent to the Coquihalla Summit is very steep, especially from the south. We hope that this is helpful. People often leave after work not realizing that as the sun goes down the temperature drops, and the storm starts. #Coquihalla 2:20pm March 3 This will be a much more convenient route for people who need to travel between the Lower Mainland and the Interior, and is another significant milestone in the province's recovery from the devastating storms. But how well do you know this stretch of highway? Signs along the Coquihalla Highway frequently warn drivers to be aware of sudden changes in weather. High 1C. The Coquihalla Highway - Phase 1, Hope to Merritt - was completed in time for Expo 86 in 1986. Stunning scenery and an engineering marvel. Highway 97Cbegins near Trepanier, at a location on Highway 97 known as Drought Hill. This stretch of road, which carries 97 South and 5 North on the same lanes (and vice versa), is the only other wrong-way concurrency in British Columbia, along with 99 North and 12 South, near the town of Lillooet. So dangerous and dramatic is the highway, Discovery Channel chose it as the basis of their gripping and exceptionally popular reality series Highway Thru Hell, which features the rescue work and heavy towing services of Jamie Davis and his 40 or so dedicated employees. Explosives, dropped from helicopters, and three days were needed to clear it. Low -4C. [7][10] The total cost for the highway between Hope and Merritt was approximately $848 million. Highway 5, in both directions. Wildfire Service said. Chance of snow 30%. Chance of snow 60%. Sunshine and clouds mixed. Expect minor delays. Over the course of November 14 and 15, some 200 millimetres (7.9in) of rain fell along the route of the Coquihalla. The Coquihalla is one of the most popular highway mountain passes in BC. [7] Surveying commenced in 1973 and in 1979 the first construction contract was issued for 4.5km (2.8mi) section of highway between Nicolum Creek and Peers Creek near Hope; however, work progressed slowly until 1984 when Premier Bill Bennett announced that the project would be fast-tracked so it could be completed to coincide with Expo 86. If the total distance travelled is 3.3 million km, this works out to less than 1 km per trip. 13 km (8 mi) north of the snow shed, after passing through another interchange and the 1244 m (4,147 ft) Coquihalla Pass, Highway 5 reaches the former toll booth; it was the only highway in British Columbia to have tolls. Thank you! Unfortunately, we dont have this information. Did you find this content interesting? We have enabled email notificationsyou will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Watch for slippery sections between Junction Hwy 97 and Pennask Summit for 33.0 km (West Kelowna to Pennask Summit). It also provides highway travellers opportunities for viewing granite peaks, wildlife and historic features such as the Kettle Valley Railway and old Coquihalla Highway, both of which were earlier routes through the area.[5][3]. In CDL School Now Chance of snow 60%. Part of the Highway 5, the road is193 km (119 miles) long, running north-south from Kamloops to Hope via Merritt. According to ICBC there were 32 fatal crashes between 2004 and 2013, and an estimated 400-500 accidents occur during the winter seasons. Careful preparation for your trip will ensure that if, and when, things do go wrong, you are prepared for the situation. The location of the former toll booth is 13km (8mi) north of the snow shed, passing through another interchange and the In summer, because of the steady uphill grade of the highway, motorists must monitor their vehicles for overheating. Privacy Agreement While many other service providers come and go, Davis remains. Can you tell me the amount of fatalities on this pass since it opened? It proceeds northeast for another 107 km (67 mi), passing Vavenby en route, to the community of Blue River, and then 109 km (68 mi) further north through the Columbia Mountains, passing by the community of Valemount to its northern terminus at Tte Jaune Cache, where it meets Highway 16. Hope that this helps! BC Transportation (@TranBC) November 17, 2021 The Coquihalla is one major route connecting the Interior to the Coast, and it remains closed between Hope and Merritt. Traffic volume on this section of highway is low compared to the Coquihalla and Kamloops sections of Highway 5. The Discovery Channel did a series called Highway Through Hell about this stretch of road. [18] In June 2016, the province implemented a variable speed limit corridor around the Coquhalla Summit Park to increase safety during adverse conditions.[19]. The Coquihalla highway. It crosses a low divide between the Thompson River and Fraser River drainages entering the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. Thanks for reading. Old toll plaza washrooms closed. REMINDER - #BCHwy5 CLOSED in both directions between #HopeBC and #Merritt due to heavy congestion and extreme winter weather. He sees it all the time, people milling around their cars at the side of the road exposing themselves to traffic unable to see them until its too late. North of Barriere it encounters a junction with Highway 24 in the village of Little Fort. I was wondering if you had the information on the percent grade climbing up Surrey Lake Summit. Chance of snow 40%. Davis has seen them: the oblivious fools who wear shorts and sandals to drive the Coq in the winter in their low-slung performance machines shod in useless all-season tires. Chance of snow 60%. Brenda Mine West Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 22 km west of 97/97C Junction, looking west. Highway 5, southbound. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. Southbound travelers please use Britton creek rest Area exit 228. Its infamy is borne on the backs of all those who failed to make it over her 1,244-metre mountain pass, which connects the coastal rainforest of B.C.s Lower Mainland with the desert climate of its interior. Othello Road Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park, Hope, British Columbia V0X 1L1 Canada Full view Best nearby Restaurants 30 within 5 kms Home Restaurant 670 2.7 km$$ - $$$ American Diner Canadian Starbucks 6 2.9 kmAmerican Spice & Grill 2 2.9 km See all Attractions 19 within 10 kms Kawkawa Lake 4 1.2 kmBodies of Water Nature & Wildlife Areas Single lane alternating traffic will be in effect. Low -4C. You can only add up to 5 vehicles to your picks. The key phrase being: know before you go. The Coquihalla Highway then enters the city of Merritt, which is accessed by two interchanges, both of which also provide access to Highway 5A, Highway 97C and Highway 8. The current Highway 5 is not the first highway in B.C. We encountered an issue signing you up. Highway 5, southbound. They dont look quite as dapper after chilling roadside a few hours. Winter tires are required on high mountain passes in BC until March 31st at the least. As Davis puts it, Its you, your vehicle, and a very lonesome feeling. While such words may be apropos for a hurtin song, they carry a far more serious meaning when delivered by Davis. The Coquihalla section was a toll road until 2008. Avalanche control works planned Saturday morning followed by any required cleanup works. Youre fatigued and the driving is its most treacherous. Hope that this helps. There is also one concrete stopping wall and one snow shed, Since the winter of 1990/1991, in regards to avalanche closures, Less than one closure per year due to avalanche hazard, specifically .96 per year over 25 years, 13 out of the last 25 years had no closures due to avalanche hazard, Of all the 24 avalanche closures, 11 were under 2 hours, The top 3 reasons for closures on the Coquihalla (in order of time spent) are, Vehicle incidents (such as stalls, vehicle fires, trucks spinning out, etc. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); This 'travel news' services website is privately owned. Southern Yellowhead Highway 5, southbound. The B.C. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 km/h. In British Columbia, motorists will find such information at www.shiftintowinter.ca. Winds SE at 10 to 15 km/h. Highway Thru Hell | Episode 4 Wreck Analysis Upload, share, download and embed your videos. The ascent is particularly steep after passing northbound through the Great Bear snow shed. Elkhart East Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 25 km east of Hwy 5A/97C Junction, looking east. High around 0C. Scattered snow showers during the evening. Winds light and variable. 35 km (22 mi) north of Othello, after passing through five interchanges, Highway 5 reaches the Great Bear snow shed, which is a landmark on the route. 1,244m or 4,081ft) is a highway summit along the Coquihalla Highway in British Columbia, Canada. Integrating BC Transportation Travel News Services and Products. Built to enhance regional tourism and to lighten traffic on the busy trucking routes, the 303 km, 4-lane highway has 3 segments. I have driven the highway dozens of times, the majority being 97C, but lots to Vancouver too. 35km (22mi) north of Othello, after passing through five interchanges, Highway 5 reaches the landmark Great Bear snow shed. Despite the entire route being signed as part of the Yellowhead Highway, the portion of Highway 5 south of Kamloops is also known as the Coquihalla Highway while the northern portion is known as the Southern Yellowhead Highway. A few snow showers developing later in the day. 1,244m (4,081ft) Coquihalla Pass. Exit numbers on the Coquihalla are a continuation of those on Highway 1 west of Hope as it is an extension of the freeway that starts in Horseshoe Bay. Could you tell me what the annual accident statistics are for the last five years? In its whole length there is only one traffic signal, which is in the town of Valemount. Highways 97C and 5A share the 28 km (17 mi) long route between Aspen Grove and Lower Nicola, where Highway 5A diverges immediately east and Highway 8 begins. Hope that this helps. Without knowing exactly the location you are referring to exactly, we would guess that is what youve seen. There is an installation of concrete blocks along the highway placed there to block avalanche flow. It soon passes through the community of Valemount where a traffic signal is located. The Coquihalla Valley has long been a major transportation route from the coast to the interior. Precip is the water equivalent of the accumulated snowfall plus the amount of any rainfall, measured in mm. He spoke of an incident that claimed the life of a Good Samaritan trying to help others involved in a crash on a dark snowy night. The speed limit is 100km/h (62mph) for the most part except in towns, where it can drop to as low as 50km/h (31mph). Bottom line: be certain you can spend five hours or possibly a day or two by yourself in a snowstorm. Chance of snow 50%. [2] After 10 years in office, Waterland retired from the Cabinet in 1986 a few months after seeing this part of the project through to its completion. Theres no help around the corner, so you must rely upon your own smarts to survive. The Sumas Prairie area of Abbotsford was put on evacuation order Monday evening. Utility work planned between Harmon Rd and Vavenby Bridge Rd (Vavenby). From 6:00 PM to 3:00 AM PST on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For the last 10 years, Davis and his company, Jamie Davis Towing, have been performing heavy recovery and rescue services along the Coq, as its affectionately called by locals. This information is collected by ICBC heres their contact information: https://www.icbc.com/about-icbc/contact-us/Pages/default.aspx. Next update time Mon Mar 6. Avalanche chutes scar the mountainsides and are a visible reminder of the steep terrain that surrounds the highway. Youve got to be a survivalist, he says. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. Check out these related links: Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ae97b9131b164e536984c2e38dcabe60" );document.getElementById("b69d9e56eb").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Sowhats the grade for north of the snow shed? Coquihalla Highway is one of the worst roads in winters Coquihalla Highway is an extreme freeway located in British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province. British Columbia is grappling with the aftermath of intense rainfall and floods, which washed away parts of major highways and forced people to evacuate from affected locations in the southern part of the province. Partly cloudy in the morning followed by periods of snow showers later in the day. Hwy 5 - Coquihalla Pass 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 0 1020 30405060 708090 100 Kilometers Elevation (meters) 1.5% 5.4% 8.5% 1.2% 4.7% Hope Merritt. How confusing! Watch for slippery sections between Loon Lake Rd and Merritt for 24.2 km (Merritt). Highway 5 re-enters the city at the Rayleigh community, where it passes two busy at-grade, but not signallized intersections; traffic volumes steadily decrease as it gets farther from the core area of Kamloops. Heffley Creek indicates the northern boundary of Kamloops, the exit to Sun Peaks resort is at the same turn off. minor incident | last updated Sat Mar 4 at 6:32 AM PST. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Elkhart West Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 25 km east of Hwy 5A/97C Junction, looking west. His "conviction that the route provided important benefits and an essential link to B.C. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
, BC Mountain Summit Weather and Road Condition Cameras, Coquihalla Summit (el. We want your experiences too! The Coquihalla highway in BC, Canada is frequently traveled by Canadians and Americans. Hourly weather forecast . Winds SSW at 10 to 15 km/h. 2 Years Shortly after the junction it descends into the city of Kamloops where it meets Highways1 and 97 at a trumpet interchange. A big part of the show takes place along the Coquihalla Highway, a 201-mile stretch of road that . Initial descent is posted at 8% but it's really more than that. Crews will have cleared the road, and youll be fresh., Davis goes on to say that the weather on the Coq, and in fact all mountain roads, can change in 20 minutes or less, and all the best forecasts can be wrong you just dont know.. Its totally paved. Cookie Policy | Thanks for your comment! The exit numbers on the Coquihalla are a continuation of those on Highway 1 west of Hope. Modern use of the pass began in 1986 after construction of the first phase of the Coquihalla Highway (from Hope to Merritt). The highway has since been fully reopened, allowing full traffic from Hope to Kamloops. Despite recent challenges on the lower portion of the highway, the Coquihalla does indeed remain a marvel of engineering. Helmer Lake Highway 5, 24 km north of Merritt at Helmer Interchange, looking to the north. Periods of rain except periods of snow near the summit. Signup for our newsletter to get notified about our next ride. We reached out to our weather and avalanche group for clarification and they let us know that the issue is the difference between measurement of precipitation and snowfall. Nighttime driving is the worst for this, and the most dangerous. premier", "New route changed the face of the province forever", "Construction of the Coquihalla: Still Amazing After 30 Years", "B.C. pentecostal assemblies of the world ordination; how to start a cna school in illinois Why the change? Winds light and variable. North of the Highway 8 junction, Highway 97C goes north for 42 km (26 mi) to Logan Lake, then northwest for 57 km (35 mi) to Ashcroft on the Canadian National Railway. Aspen Grove South Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), at Hwy 5A Junction, near Aspen Grove, looking south. High 2C. In addition to getting a 2023 first-round pick and solid prospect in Reid Schaefer in the Mattias Ekholm trade . There was an error, please provide a valid email address. In short, it all comes down to preparation, and this is what Davis really emphasized. Pennask Summit Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 74 km west of Kelowna, looking east. If you have specific routes which you are interested in, you may want to identify those as well. Periods of rain except periods of snow near the summit. [5] In 1970, Highway 5 between Kamloops and Tte Jaune Cache was designated as the South Yellowhead Highway and signed with the Yellowhead Highway shield, while the section south of Kamloops was still signed with the standard British Columbia highway shield. Road construction work between Exit 231: Mine Creek Rd and Exit 250: Larson Hill for 18.6 km (31 to 12 km north of Coquihalla Summit). The Coquihalla was closed north of Hope on Sunday due to the July Creek wildfire, which jumped the highway and merged with the Brook Creek blaze on the other side. Make sure your vehicle is in good shape with summer coolant and good brakes and tires. Do you know any spectacular road?Click here to send us all the info, and we'll publish it! Although the Yellowhead Highway system is considered part of the Trans-Canada Highway network, Highway 5 is not represented with a Trans-Canada marker. The road is named after Coquihalla River. ", "Coquihalla Highway set to reopen to regular traffic | BC Gov News", "Highway Exits & Landmarks - Coquihalla Highway 5 Starts (Yellowhead Route)", Template:Attached KML/British Columbia Highway 5, 7 Things You Need to Know BEFORE Driving the Coquihalla and High Mountain Passes, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=British_Columbia_Highway_5&oldid=1134238496, East end of Hwy3 concurrency; south end of, Coquihalla Lakes Rest Area (former site of toll booths), Coquihalla Lakes Road Britton Creek Rest Area, South end of Hwy1/ Hwy97 concurrency; north end of, North end of Hwy1/ Hwy97 concurrency; Hwy5 exits freeway; exit numbers continue on Hwy1, This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 17:46. Highway 5 is a 543km (337mi) northsouth route in southern British Columbia, Canada. Chance of snow 60%. High 2C. Hi there Cass thanks for your question. Until Sat Mar 4. Wow, is David Poile ever rolling out the red carpet for his GM successor Barry Trotz. minor road condition | last updated Sat Mar 4 at 6:45 AM PST. Parts of the Coquihalla Highway were washed away in heavy rains near the Caroline Mine area close to Hope, B.C. A series of protected areas were established along the route in 1986. High 3C. Wait until morning. [citation needed] As a result of the washout events, the Canadian Forces Cormorant helicopters completed rescue evacuations of stranded motorists on the highway. Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Chance of snow 60%. The road, (colloquially "the Coq"), climbs up the Coquihalla Pass, a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.249m (4,097ft) above the sea level and tops out by Surrey Lake Summit, at 1.444m (4,738ft) asl. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. It should be cm, not mm. It is a major link connecting Vancouver to the BC inland. Go prepared, or go home. If youre mired in the white stuff, so are rescue services, including ambulances, tow trucks and taxi cabs. Winds light and variable. I have not been able to find information on Surrey Lake Summit on the website. I would like to know, too. We recommend that you check DriveBC before you travel, specifically the webcams, to get an idea of snow levels along the route.