, BC Mountain Summit Weather and Road Condition Cameras, Coquihalla Summit (el. 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. Hope that this helps! It soon passes through the community of Valemount where a traffic signal is located. In CDL School Now Avalanche chutes scar the mountainsides and are a visible reminder of the steep terrain that surrounds the highway. 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. The list goes on. Without your consent employers will not be able to contact with job offers, would you like to opt-in now? Its a fine highway. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); This 'travel news' services website is privately owned. Heffley Creek indicates the northern boundary of Kamloops, the exit to Sun Peaks resort is at the same turn off. The highway is pretty good, some sections have frost heaves and uneven pavement but it's 2 lanes each way so slower traffic like trucks are not an issue. Work will commence in a series of phased activities along the pipeline right-of-way. Job Listing Rules. We cant say for sure however, we can venture a guess that this term was coined by commercial truck operators who experienced one or more vehicle incidents at the summit/tunnel location. [23], Owing to its reputation, Highway 5 is featured predominantly in the reality docuseries Highway Thru Hell, which follows a group of towing companies that operate in the Interior and Highway 5.[24]. Its one of the worst roads in all of North America in winters. Snow showers. 2.2m members in the Roadcam community. [8], In 2003, Premier Gordon Campbell announced the Liberal government would turn over toll revenue to a private operator, along with responsibility for operation, and maintenance of "the Coq". In short, it all comes down to preparation, and this is what Davis really emphasized. Thanks for reading. Lane closures and short duration traffic stoppages will be in effect periodically. Each company we work with has specific experience requirements for their drivers. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. 's infamous 'Highway Thru Hell'. 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. From 6:00 PM to 3:00 AM PST on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Privacy Agreement The Coquihalla approximately traces through the Cascade Mountainsthe route of the former Kettle Valley Railway, which existed between 1912 and 1958. 5 min read. 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 Britton Creek N Hwy 5, by Britton Creek Rest Area northbound turnoff, looking north. Winter tires are required on high mountain passes in BC until March 31st at the least. And what is the % gradient? Initial descent is posted at 8% but it's really more than that. Do you know any spectacular road?Click here to send us all the info, and we'll publish it! The Coquihalla Snowshed Protocol: 10 Steps to Highway Safety. Go prepared, or go home. There is an installation of concrete blocks along the highway placed there to block avalanche flow. In order for you to receive the best possible offers, please make sure your answers above are accurate prior to submitting. [3], Following nine days of snowfall in February 2014, a Class 4 avalanche occurred across the Coquihalla Highway, 33 kilometres (21mi) north of Hope on February 20, 2014. Sign up to receive Driving.ca's Blind-Spot Monitor newsletter on Wednesdays and Saturdays. City folk drive out of Vancouver and forget that they have to go through a mountain pass, halfway up they are at the point of no return and arent equipped. And thats when things go wrong. Winds light and variable. His "conviction that the route provided important benefits and an essential link to B.C. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Next update time Mon Mar 6. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. It was a toll road until 2008. Highway 97Cbegins near Trepanier, at a location on Highway 97 known as Drought Hill. Chance of snow 60%.
It requires skill to drive. At high elevations it can sometimes get to be -30 deg. There were 32 fatal crashes between 2004 and 2013 (according to ICBC). Can you tell me the amount of fatalities on this pass since it opened? [15], In 2011, the British Columbia government replaced the standard British Columbia Highway 5 shields with Yellowhead Highway 5 shields south of Kamloops, which at the time drew some concern that the Coquihalla Highway would be officially renamed. Number of closures for the last 10 years would be sufficient. The Coquihalla Highway starts south of the junction with Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3) situated at the uninhabited region of Othello. It is located just south of the former toll booth plaza on the Coquihalla Highway, about 50 km north of Hope, and 65 km south of Merritt and is the divide between the Coquihalla River and the Coldwater River. High -2C. [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. Precip is the water equivalent of the accumulated snowfall plus the amount of any rainfall, measured in mm. We hope that this is helpful. The key phrase being: know before you go. GENERAL STATS Sometime in March? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. High 2C. kamloops to merrit is absolutely treacherous right now, blowing blizzards and low vis, i can imagine the smasher will be 10x worse minor construction | last updated Wed Mar 1 at 8:21 AM PST. Compact snow. Low -4C. It is located just south of the former toll booth plaza on the Coquihalla Highway, about 50km (31mi) north of Hope, and 65km (40mi) south of Merritt and is the divide between the Coquihalla River and the Coldwater River. Unfortunately, we dont have this information. Low around -10C. Now they just drop bombs from the helicopters in the exact location of the avalanche hazard. Modern use of the pass began in 1986 after construction of the first phase of the Coquihalla Highway (from Hope to Merritt). Along with adequate provisions to maintain ones warmth and energy, there are the obvious car-related preparations, such as proper snow tires. What are the bunker looking things on the side of the highway? Until Sun Mar 5 at 3:00 AM PST. Chance of snow 50%. Pothole Lake East Highway 97C Weather Cameras (Okanagan Connector), near Pothole Lake about 7 km east of Aspen Grove, looking east. Larson Hill N Hwy 5 at Larson Hill, 36 km south of Merritt, looking to the north. (Submitted by Jeremiah Steberl) B.C.'s Coquihalla Highway could be . 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. Route map: .mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:#f9f9f9;display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}, British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, "Coquihalla Highway tolls dropped, says B.C. Coquihalla Summit N Hwy 5, about 7 km north of Zopkios Brake Check, looking north. According to ICBC there were 32 fatal crashes between 2004 and 2013, and an estimated 400-500 accidents occur during the winter seasons. [27] 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. Safe travels. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Zopkios Southbound N Hwy 5, northbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit looking to the south. [6], In the 1960s, the Merritt Board of Trade began lobbying the B.C. We used to use the guns for avalanche control in the area, but the ministry now use helicopters to detonate explosives and trigger controlled avalanches. Watch for slippery sections between Junction Hwy 97 and Pennask Summit for 33.0 km (West Kelowna to Pennask Summit). A highway camera in the area shows the dark-coloured. Chance of snow 30%. Low -6C. 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. [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. I have driven the highway dozens of times, the majority being 97C, but lots to Vancouver too. Nighttime driving is the worst for this, and the most dangerous. Washrooms are temporarily closed between Exit 228: Coquihalla Lakes Rd and Exit 221: Falls Lake Rd for 0.7 km (6 km north of Coquihalla Summit). 's rural highways", "What You Need to Know About Winter Weather on the "Coq", "British Columbia's 12 deadliest highways", "Highway Thru Hell: tough, but Canadian-style tough", "Highways closed around B.C. dangerousroads.org is not responsible for the information contained in these pages. Brenda Mine East Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 22 km west of 97/97C Junction, looking east. Daviss trucks never leave the yard without stopping in the nearby town of Hope to fill up on gas, and there are always food and survival provisions on-board. Chance of snow 50%. [22] DriveBC keeps up to date with reports on Coquihalla Highway conditions, including live webcams in several locations. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%. Snow showers. Once the roads are passable, Davis or one of his drivers will come back with gas, but be prepared to pay. Coquihalla Highway is one of the worst roads in winters Coquihalla Highway is an extreme freeway located in British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province. 3 Years Stunning scenery and an engineering marvel. After leaving the concurrency it immediately crosses the South Thompson River and enters a First Nations Reserve, temporarily leaving Kamloops city limits. Winter driving is indeed dangerous, but that is more a reflection of the high elevation and mountainous terrain rather than the road itself. Ten earth structures (stopping dams and mounds) which you probably wouldnt notice because they are now covered with vegetation. Pothole Lake West Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), near Pothole Lake about 7 km east of Aspen Grove, looking west. Theres no help around the corner, so you must rely upon your own smarts to survive. What are the round cement bunker like structures along the highway?? Did you find this content interesting? The government website you provide states that the entire Coquihalla highway (i.e., Hope to Kamloops) is restricted. The exit numbers on the Coquihalla are a continuation of those on Highway 1 west of Hope. Vehicle recovery between Inks Lake Rd and Chuwhels Mountain Rd for 4.0 km (13 to 9 km south of Kamloops). I was wondering if you had the information on the percent grade climbing up Surrey Lake Summit. I do not see a lot of information about bicycles on the highway. Coquihalla Highway is the largest of 4 routes connecting the Vancouver area with interior centres. A single-vehicle crash has closed the left lane of southbound traffic on the Coquihalla Highway, at the Zopkios brake check, Saturday morning. 1-5 Months The Coquihalla highway. Winds light and variable. Safe travels. When can you count on there being no more snow on the Coq? High avalanche hazard between the start of Highway 5 and Exit 286: Merritt - 97C for 109.3 km (Hope to Merritt). Also I read that Surrey Lake Summit was formerly known as Clapperton Creek Summit. After exiting Merritt the highway climbs up a long steep hill towards another highpoint the Surrey Lake Summit It pass through three interchanges along this section. Next it passes Tte Jaune Cache and crosses the Fraser River, after which it immediately meets Highway16 in a partial interchange; making its northern terminus. Stay tuned. 61km (38mi) and five interchanges north of the former toll plaza. Check Coquihalla conditions. It is located just south of the former toll booth plaza on the Coquihalla Highway, about 50 km (31 mi) north of Hope, and 65 km (40 mi) south of Merritt and is the divide between the Coquihalla River and the Coldwater River . Coquihalla Summit S Hwy 5, about 7 km north of Zopkios Brake Check, looking the south. Jan 30, 2013 Surrey, BC 0 This is The Smasher on BC's Coquihalla Highway. Stay tuned. Our local avalanche staff has let us know that while we dont have a weather station there, we do have the following info to share: That's a LOT of white stuff coming down. [13], On September 26, 2008, the provincial government permanently lifted the Coquihalla tolls, effective 1:00 pm that day. (I found the info on Wikipedia, but no explanation). Periods of rain except periods of snow near the summit. Variably cloudy with snow showers. Coquihalla Lakes S Hwy 5, 61km south of Merritt, looking to the south. Now that you are a Highway thru Hell fan you might be interested in some of our Highway Thru Hell content: https://www.tranbc.ca/2012/11/01/5-things-to-learn-from-watching-highway-thru-hell/ 6-11 Months Chance of snow 60%. 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. We have the information but it is in a graph format and this platform wont support graphics in the comments. Watch for slippery sections between Loon Lake Rd and Merritt for 24.2 km (Merritt). Title: Elevation and Grade Profile on Highway 5 - Coquihalla Pass Author: BC Ministry of Transporation Subject: Scattered snow showers during the evening. The ascent is particularly steep after passing northbound through the Great Bear snow shed. Winds light and variable. 30 km (19 mi) north of Little Fort, while continuing to follow the North Thompson and the CN Railway, Highway 5 reaches the community of Clearwater. Sunshine and clouds mixed. Highway 5, in both directions. 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. High 1C. From south to north, the following intersections are observed along Highway 5:[29][30], Highway 5 passing through Thompson Plateau. Winds S at 10 to 15 km/h. [9] The opening celebrations featured a ceremony in Hope followed by a convoy led by premier Bennett in an open air convertible that smashed through paper banners strung across the new highway lanes, stopped at the Coquihalla summit to dedicate a time capsule, and continued to Merritt for further celebrations. Members are encouraged to submit articles about driving the Coquihalla. Highway 5 continues east for 12km (7.5mi) concurrently with Highways1 and 97, through Kamloops. 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). There isnt a Timmies on every corner., When it comes to winter tires, four is always the safest way to go. Low -8C. Coquihalla Great Bear Snowshed S Hwy 5, Great Bear Snowshed looking to the south. The Coquihalla Highway - Phase 1, Hope to Merritt - was completed in time for Expo 86 in 1986. High 2C. 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. [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. Southern Yellowhead Highway 5, southbound. Zopkios - Hwy 5, southbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit, looking northeast. In 1876 the Hope-Nicola Trail was built.