Province updates highway re-opening timelines, says Highway 8 may be most damaged

VICTORIA — Provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure officials have a better idea of the damage wrought on Interior highways from this week’s historic rainstorm — and it’s not pretty.

Ministry spokesperson Paula Cousins says the hardest-hit route may have been Highway 8.

“Highway 8 between Merritt and Spences Bridge experienced probably the most extensive damage,” said Cousins. “We will be conducting a [drone] survey flight as soon as conditions allow to better understand the extent of the damage which will inform our planning and reconstruction options.”

The Coquihalla Highway between Merritt and Hope has been damaged in multiple locations and Cousins says it will take months before even short-term fixes can be put in place.

“Initial damage assessments have been completed and, as Minister Fleming stated previously, we can confirm temporary repairs are going to take months,” she said. “Our crews are preparing site plans to begin temporary repairs while engineering, procurement and construction experts work to determine the best and fastest way to restore the corridor to its pre-event conditions.”

As for the Trans Canada Highway through the Fraser Canyon to the west, Cousins notes ministry officials are working with the two national railways to begin planning reconstruction to the corridor, but it is also significantly damaged.

On the positive side, ministry officials noted Highways 3 and 99 connecting the Interior and the Lower Mainland may be back open in the coming days.