Pothole Lake East Highway 97C Weather Cameras (Okanagan Connector), near Pothole Lake about 7 km east of Aspen Grove, looking east. All rights reserved. They dont look quite as dapper after chilling roadside a few hours. Is it true Surrey Lake Summit was formerly called Clapperton Lake Summit? Watch for slippery sections between Junction Hwy 97 and Pennask Summit for 33.0 km (West Kelowna to Pennask Summit). Winds light and variable. Nonetheless, anyone planning a winter road trip is advised to check with their provincial highway services for road and weather reports. 6-11 Months We want your experiences too! [7] The three phases have been credited with transforming Merritt into an important transportation hub between the coast and interior, as well as significant growth in both Kamloops and the Okanagan due to improved accessibility. It is the highest point on the highway between the cities of Hope and Merritt. Low -4C. [11] Phase 2 between Merritt and Kamloops opened in September 1987, re-routing Highway 5, while Phase 3 was opened in October 1990 and designated as Highway 97C. If youre mired in the white stuff, so are rescue services, including ambulances, tow trucks and taxi cabs. We hope that this information is helpful. Think again. Low around -5C. Wow, is David Poile ever rolling out the red carpet for his GM successor Barry Trotz. Terms | It passes an important junction for Adams Lake in the settlement of Louis Creek before entering the town Barriere. Southbound travelers please use Britton creek rest Area exit 228. [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. Coquihalla Summit is not actually the highest point on the Coquihalla Highway, rather the Surrey Lake Summit[clarification needed] at 1,244m (4,081ft) is the highest point on the Coquihalla, which goes from Hope to the Highway 1 interchange outside of Kamloops. Low -9C. It is typically open all year round, with the occasional closure in winters due to dangerous weather conditions. Lane Closure. Privacy | The round concrete blocks your referring too are at the widened breaks in the highway barriers where the Military used to pull off and set up and shoot up into the snow packed mountains for avalanche control. [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]. Snow showers. 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. Check Weather and Road Conditions at the Great Bear Snowshed Highway Cam Road Condition Reports for the Coquihalla Hwy5 and Highway 97C 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. Reinstate the toll to pay for highway maintenance; any $$ not used on the Coq. It may take several hours of travel time and a hundred dollars in burnt fuel to obtain a jerrycan of rescue. The Coquihalla Snowshed Protocol: 10 Steps to Highway Safety. minor incident | last updated Tue Feb 28 at 12:59 PM PST. The main factor is youre driving over a mountain. Snow can fall on high mountain passes in BC, such as the Coquihalla, well into the spring and occasionally into the summer. The section of Highway 97C east of Merritt is mostly freeway, with a speed limit of 110 km/h (68 mph) and between 4 and 6 lanes, and has very few exits along its route. In 1953, the '5' designation was moved to designate Princeton-Merritt-Kamloops Highway (present-day Highway 5A) to north of Kamloops; by 1960 Highway 5 was extended north to Tte Jaune Cache and subsequently paved. which shows MVKM (Million Vehicle Kilometres) for many highway segments. Utility work planned between Thunder Creek Bridge and Blue River Bridge for 13.5 km (Blue River). Winds NE at 10 to 15 km/h. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. 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. Snow showers. The severe winter snow and winds threaten even the most experienced and best-equipped drivers. 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. 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. 7 day. Brenda Mine West Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 22 km west of 97/97C Junction, looking west. [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. There were 32 fatal crashes between 2004 and 2013 (according to ICBC). Chance of snow 50%. The road is named after Coquihalla River. Smart drivers have lots of gas, carry winter clothing, a candle (for warmth) and sleeping bag in the car ' just in case' (chances are that you will never need those extras). Zopkios Northbound N Hwy 5, northbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit looking to the north. North of Barriere it encounters a junction with Highway 24 in the village of Little Fort. Safe travels. 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. Mostly cloudy skies early. Coquihalla Conditions for Hwy 5 Coquihalla highway & Hwy 97C Okanagan connector for today. After leaving the concurrency it immediately crosses the South Thompson River and enters a First Nations Reserve, temporarily leaving Kamloops city limits. 's infamous 'Highway Thru Hell'. After separating from Highways 1 and 97, Highway 5 proceeds north for approximately 19km (12mi). 1,244m (4,081ft) Coquihalla Pass. The Coquihalla is one of the most popular highway mountain passes in BC. Highway 5, southbound. Kw'ikw'iya:la (Coquihalla) in the Halq'emeylem language of the St:l, is a place name meaning "stingy container." The Sumas Prairie area of Abbotsford was put on evacuation order Monday evening. 1. Pennask Summit Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 74 km west of Kelowna, looking east. Driving the Smasher on the Coquihalla highway mid winter 2011 Astronomer Paul 187 subscribers Subscribe 68K views 11 years ago A cruise over the summit of the Coquihalla highway and down the. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. kamloops to merrit is absolutely treacherous right now, blowing blizzards and low vis, i can imagine the smasher will be 10x worse [1] It is the highest point on the highway between the cities of Hope and Merritt. If theres anyone qualified to deliver a life-saving rant to those tackling Canadas winter highways, its got to be Davis. Davis is from a hauling family, learning the ropes at an early age from his parents before establishing his first towing firm with his brother in the 1980s. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. 2-3cm of snow expected. Thank you! 5+ Years, Please select ALL of your current, valid drivers licenses. Edit your picks to remove vehicles if you want to add different ones. Safe travels. Hope, at the eastern end of the Fraser Valley. Low -6C. Watch for slippery sections between Loon Lake Rd and Merritt for 24.2 km (Merritt). an accident) or some other factor? These defenses include: Road alignment designed to use Boston Bar creek as a natural catchment area. He possesses astonishing insight into the world of transportation and heavy rescue. Coquihalla Great Bear Snowshed S Hwy 5, Great Bear Snowshed looking to the south. Heres a blog we wrote about our avalanche program and with a video of an controlled avalanche completed using a helicopter: http://tranbc.ca/2016/03/24/what-its-like-to-watch-an-avalanche-from-a-helicopter/. Highway 5. 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). Then partly to mostly cloudy overnight. Hi there this information is availabel via the DataBC DriveBC catalogue here:https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/historical-drivebc-events Chance of snow 60%. There isnt actually a single number to answer the question, because freezing levels very so much in the mountains around the Coquihalla. The highway, varying between four and six lanes, 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. The Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area is located at the top of the pass on the Coquihalla Highway, approximately 45km (28mi) north of Hope. Safe travels! Avalanche control works planned Saturday morning followed by any required cleanup works. It's called British Columbia Highway 5 (Coquihalla Highway). Journey Through the Depths: Exploring Peru's Challenging Cotahuasi Canyon Road, Discovering the Beauty of South Africa's Prince Albert Pass on an Adventurous Road Trip, Exploring the Treacherous Beauty of Germany's Black Forest High Road, Conquering The Ultimate Driving Challenge: Navigating Brazil's Serra Do Rio Do Rastro Road, Driving the Hindustan-Tibet Road: A Challenging Adventure on India's NH-22, Germanys 5 Best Castles You Have To Visit At Least Once, Oh-My-God Road in CO is so named for its drop offs and switchbacks, Long Canyon Road is a challenging drive in Utah, 34 Roads You Need To Drive Before You Die, Driving the 49 best coastal drives in the world, The most spectacular bridges in the world, The 15 longest straight roads in the world, Driving the 24 highest motorable roads in the world, Driving the Icefields Parkway in the Canadian Rockies, Strada della Forra is the scenic gorge road for James Bond, Route de Presles is a balcony road in France, Calanques de Piana is a scenic balcony road in France, Slea Head Drive is one of Ireland's best coastal routes, Sa Calobra Road in Mallorca is The Snake Road, Going-to-the-Sun Road is an engineering marvel in Glacier NP, The coastal Atlantic Ocean Road is a must do, Welcome to hell: Khaltaro Valley Road is a scary drive, Austrian Road is a brutal drive in the Altai Mountains of Kazakhstan, Road 622 is a hazardous drive below sea level when the tide is high, D915 (Bayburt-Of) is the most challenging road in the world, The cliffhanger road from Kishtwar to Keylong is not for the sissies, Abano Pass is a Georgian treacherous road closed in winters, Engineer Pass is a rugged and difficult historic road into the San Juan mountains, The dangerous Fairy Meadows Road: one false move and its a very long drop, Skippers Canyon Road: narrow and only for experienced drivers, Death Road is a lethal journey in the Bolivian Yungas region, Driving the 15 highest paved roads of Europe, Driving the 8 most famous periodically flooded roads in the world, Driving the 34 world's most famous hairpinned roads, Driving the 18 most scenic roads of Norway, Driving the best Romanian high altitude roads. Tomorrow. From south to north, the following intersections are observed along Highway 5:[29][30], Highway 5 passing through Thompson Plateau. Chance of snow 60%. We recommend that you check DriveBC before you travel, specifically the webcams, to get an idea of snow levels along the route. Could you tell me what the annual accident statistics are for the last five years? You've probably driven it a few times, whether as a commuter or a BC traveller, or TONS of times as a commercial driver. We have sent this question forward to the area operations manager for review. It requires skill to drive. At high elevations it can sometimes get to be -30 deg. Southern Yellowhead Highway 5, southbound. Also I read that Surrey Lake Summit was formerly known as Clapperton Creek Summit. I note that you give average daily traffic at 10,569 which works out to 3.9 million trips per year. Hope that this information is helpful. For highway rescuer Jamie Davis, those words of wisdom come from 10 years of pulling wrecks from gullies along the snowbound Highway Thru Hell, otherwise known as B.C.'s . Pennask Summit Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector). Canadian Covid -19 Emergency border measures have ended. Watch premium and official videos free online. [22] DriveBC keeps up to date with reports on Coquihalla Highway conditions, including live webcams in several locations. 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. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. [4], Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area is a provincial recreation area centred around Coquihalla Summit. High 2C. 1 Year I was hoping you could either confirm or deny this. minor road condition | last updated Sat Mar 4 at 6:31 AM PST. Davis went onto emphasize the importance of staying put, and not stepping onto the highway without proper reflective gear and safety equipment. Highway 97C. minor construction | last updated Fri Mar 3 at 8:05 PM PST. Helmer Lake Highway 5, 24 km north of Merritt at Helmer Interchange, looking to the north. 2023 Driving, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Utility work planned between Harmon Rd and Vavenby Bridge Rd (Vavenby). It is so-named because near Hope, it generally follows the Coquihalla River, for about 60km (37mi), and uses the Coquihalla Pass. The ascent is particularly steep after passing . The recreation area was established on September 4, 1987, with the goal of protecting the transition zone between the wetter coast and drier southern interior regions of the province. Integrating BC Transportation Travel News Services and Products. High 2C. Traffic pattern changed back to 2 lanes each direction. Her deadly weapons of choice include sheets of ice, blinding snowstorms, and avalanches. [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. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Sign up to receive Driving.ca's Blind-Spot Monitor newsletter on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 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. There are some portions of the Coquihalla where cycling is prohibited. The Smasher. Thanks for your message. Coquihalla Summit N Hwy 5, about 7 km north of Zopkios Brake Check, looking north. According to St:l oral history, the skw'exweq (water babies, underwater people) who inhabit a pool close by the rock, would swim out and pull the salmon off the spears, allowing only certain fisherman to catch the salmon."[2]. Winds SE at 10 to 15 km/h. Pothole Lake West Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), near Pothole Lake about 7 km east of Aspen Grove, looking west. Single lane alternating traffic will be in effect. We hope that answered some questions or piqued your curiosity around the Coq. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. [27] Any information would be very helpful. Britton Creek N Hwy 5, by Britton Creek Rest Area northbound turnoff, looking north. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Watch for slippery sections between Exit 202: Portia and Exit 231: Mine Creek Rd for 25.2 km (6 km south of Great Bear Snowshed to 12 km north of Coquihalla Summit). Chance of snow 50%. Avalanche chutes scar the mountainsides and are a visible reminder of the steep terrain that surrounds the highway. tom mcloughlin friday the 13th. OBEY ALL SIGNAGE. That's a LOT of white stuff coming down. Compact snow. [28] 5 min read. The length of the Coquihalla, per construction phase: vs. the old Highway 3 Route from Kelowna area you save approximately 70km of travel or/and an 1h30mins, vs the old Fraser Canyon Route (Trans Canada) from Kamloops via the TCH you save approximately 70km and 1h 10mins, Phase 1 opened in May 1986 (Hope to Merritt), Phase 2 was completed on Sept 4, 1987 (Merritt toKamloops), Phase 3 was completed on Oct 1, 1990 (The Coquihalla Connector from Merritt toWest Kelowna), Named the Coquihalla because it generally follows the Coquihalla River and uses the Coquihalla Pass. Does an agency record statistics for the number of highway road closures per year? Winds E at 10 to 15 km/h. Traffic volume on this section of highway is low compared to the Coquihalla and Kamloops sections of Highway 5. At the top of this website, you provided good general statistical information. 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. You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. There are remnants of a few structures which might be visible along this stretch: Avalanche bunkers where avalanche techs might have set up and used older military style explosives to trigger avalanches in the area; avalanche benches which are installed to stop the flow of snow onto the highway; or there is also the remnants of an old telecommunications gondola, which carried service workers up to the peak of Dog Mountain back in the day. [citation needed] As a result of the washout events, the Canadian Forces Cormorant helicopters completed rescue evacuations of stranded motorists on the highway. The small signs in the shape of old steam locomotives, The Coquihalla averages 1,350mm of precipitation of which 1,150mm falls as snow, The annual average peak snowpack (depth of snow on the ground) is 235cm at the summit, Average amount of winter abrasive used yearly: 40,000 m3, Average amount of anti-icing liquid used yearly: 3 million litres, During storm events, in addition to other equipment and snow plows VSA maintenance uses 3. [21] Global News listed the stretch between Merritt and Hope as one of the deadliest highways in BC. 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: Highway 5, in both directions. Hes been the one constant along the hellish stretch of road that truckers rely upon, and as such hes seen it all more than once. Tough on what seemed like all cars except mine. I know you said 235cm snowpack but I doesnt specify how much snow actually falls annually. The government website you provide states that the entire Coquihalla highway (i.e., Hope to Kamloops) is restricted. C in cold winter weather. High avalanche hazard between the start of Highway 5 and Exit 286: Merritt - 97C for 109.3 km (Hope to Merritt). Hes the constant that can be relied upon when self-reliance runs out. Explosives, dropped from helicopters, and three days were needed to clear it. It is largely a two-lane undivided road, with some rare three- or four-lane sections for passing, although work has been constantly underway (especially in the Heffley CreekClearwater section) to create more passing opportunities. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Thanks for reading. Winds SE at 10 to 15 km/h. The Coquihalla highway. 30km (19mi) north of Little Fort, while continuing to follow the North Thompson and the CN Railway, Highway 5 reaches the resort community of Clearwater where a roundabout provides access to Wells Gray Provincial Park. minor construction | last updated Tue Feb 28 at 12:40 PM PST. At ridgetop (1660m) our average is 1850cm of snowfall, and this year we only received 1269cm. [12] In response to strong opposition from the public, and numerous businesses, in the Interior of British Columbia, the provincial government shelved the move three months later. Brenda Mine East Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 22 km west of 97/97C Junction, looking east. Can you guys find out the answer to Brians question? Construction of this part of the Coquihalla Highway was spearheaded by Tom Waterland as MLA for Yale-Lillooet. In 1876 the Hope-Nicola Trail was built. The list goes on. On the one hand, you have the Othello Tunnels, which is what the park is most known for; on the other hand, you have the park's epic geology, rushing water and beautiful flora. Hello Greg. 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. Larson Hill N Hwy 5 at Larson Hill, 36 km south of Merritt, looking to the north. The tunnel entrance of the mountain pass on B.C.s Highway 5. tap here to see other videos from our team. | next update Sat Mar 4 at 1:00 PM PST. Wildfire Service said. Why the change? Winds light and variable. Cloudy with snow showers developing for the afternoon. Stay tuned. The grade on the Snow Shed Hill between the Great Bear Snow Shed and Zopkios Brake Check is 8%. Larson Hill S Hwy 5 at Larson Hill, 36 km south of Merritt, looking to the south. NO highway should be demonized because of the idiots who dont know what they are doing. Next update time Mon Mar 6. Highway5 follows the North Thompson River north from Kamloops and Heffley Creek for approximately 54km (34mi), along a parallel course with the Canadian National Railway's main line. Comstock Highway 5 at Comstock Rd, about 15 km south of Merritt, looking to the north. Highway 1, 3, 7 and 5 in Coquihalla suffered extensive damage . Many of the catastrophic mistakes he bears witness to involve typical cars and SUVs rather than big rigs. High -1C. On Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, the Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5) will reopen to regular vehicle traffic between Hope and Merritt. Go prepared, or go home. Chance of snow 60%. High 3C. Coquihalla Highway is the largest of 4 routes connecting the Vancouver area with interior centres. The pass is named after the Coquihalla River, from which the highway also derives its name. Zopkios Southbound N Hwy 5, northbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit looking to the south. Signs along the Coquihalla Highway frequently warn drivers to be aware of sudden changes in weather. They chose to confront the Coq without a full tank, not realizing that idling a car for warmth hour after hour depletes an already dangerously low fuel tank. Low -4C. Single lane alternating traffic will be in effect. On December 20, 2021, the Coquihalla Highway was reopened to essential traffic, with non- essential traffic being diverted towards Highway 99. Chance of snow 60%. You can find detailed informations about: wind speed, wind direction, pressure, temperature, humidity and visibility at Coquihalla. In British Columbia, motorists will find such information at www.shiftintowinter.ca. The Coq starts near sea level at Hope and then gains over a kilometre in elevation in less than 50km distance. Now they just drop bombs from the helicopters in the exact location of the avalanche hazard. Stay tuned. Without knowing exactly the location you are referring to exactly, we would guess that is what youve seen. Can you tell me the amount of fatalities on this pass since it opened? If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. Scattered snow showers during the evening. Signup for our newsletter to get notified about our next ride.