Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. [1] It is the highest point on the highway between the cities of Hope and Merritt. Hope that this information is helpful. For most of this section it is a 4 lane divided highway with several signalized intersections and a speed limit of 80km/h (50mph). The Coquihalla highway in BC, Canada is frequently traveled by Canadians and Americans. High around 0C. Hope that this helps. Winds E at 10 to 15 km/h. Safe travels. High -2C. Privacy | The location of the former toll booth is 13km (8mi) north of the snow shed, passing through another interchange and the Safe travels. Winds light and variable. Members are encouraged to submit articles about driving the Coquihalla. Thanks for connecting with us here. But thats not the entire story because there are signs on the highway directing bicyclists, so clearly it can be used. From 1941 to 1953, the section of present-day Highway 97, Highway 97A, and Highway 97B, between Kaleden, just south of Penticton, and Salmon Arm, was formerly Highway 5. Aspen Grove North Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), at Hwy 5A Junction, near Aspen Grove, looking north. High 3C. 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]. Trucks have been known to avoid the route, but most motorists don't have any hesitation about driving the route in spring-summer-fall conditions. Download Millions Of Videos Online. The Coquihalla is one of the most popular highway mountain passes in BC. Repairs are being made. [28] This year we were way below average, receiving only 674cm of snowfall. 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/ 2.2m members in the Roadcam community. Brenda Mine West Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 22 km west of 97/97C Junction, looking west. Periods of rain except periods of snow near the summit. 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 . After separating from Highways 1 and 97, Highway 5 proceeds north for approximately 19km (12mi). How long will it take to drive the Coq at an easy sight seeing pace? High 2C. From 6:00 PM to 3:00 AM PST on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 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 infamous Highway 5, also named the Coquihalla. This is one of the most amazing stretches of roads in North America. If Hell was cold I'd agree with them. government for a new highway route to Hope, including a vehicle caravan that was staged eight times starting in 1963, over the abandoned Kettle Valley Railway grade, in order draw attention to the potential of this route. Without your consent employers will not be able to contact with job offers, would you like to opt-in now? It is typically open all year round, with the occasional closure in winters due to dangerous weather conditions. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. minor road condition | last updated Sat Mar 4 at 6:31 AM PST. | next update Sat Mar 4 at 1:00 PM PST. What you see are likely the old avalanche howitzer guns and bases that are roadside within avalanche paths. Major BC highway could reopen this weekend as new photos show huge High -1C. Long steep grades will have large units using brakes and pulling hard going up hill. Forecast issued: 3:45 PM PST Monday 6 February 2023. 's Interior helped to convince reluctant Cabinet members of the necessity of the third route to the Interior". Brenda Mine East Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 22 km west of 97/97C Junction, looking east. Occasional snow showers. Low -6C. Careful preparation for your trip will ensure that if, and when, things do go wrong, you are prepared for the situation. https://www.tranbc.ca/2013/01/09/highway-thru-hell-the-complete-tranbc-interview-series/, why is a portion of the highway called the smasher?. Is it true Surrey Lake Summit was formerly called Clapperton Lake Summit? There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Copyright 2023, Province of British Columbia. We have the information but it is in a graph format and this platform wont support graphics in the comments. The Coquihalla Highway, which appears to have snapped in two, is one of B.C.'s most important highways since it connects the city of Vancouver to the province Interior. It was a toll road until 2008. Helmer Lake Highway 5, 24 km north of Merritt at Helmer Interchange, looking to the north. ICBC tracks these statistics here: https://www.icbc.com/about-icbc/newsroom/Pages/Statistics.aspx. minor construction | last updated Thu Mar 2 at 4:51 PM PST. Chance of snow 60%. Cookie Policy | Parts of the Coquihalla Highway were washed away in heavy rains near the Caroline Mine area close to Hope, B.C. The Coquihalla Highway starts south of the junction with Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3) situated at the uninhabited region of Othello. Hes the constant that can be relied upon when self-reliance runs out. Tomorrow. The area retains some remnants of the Kettle Valley Railway which travelled this route from early 1900s until 1961. It also experiences extreme snowfall rates, with accumulation sometimes exceeding 10 cm per hour. The 52-year-old has built up such a reputation that truckers say when his green rig shows up, there is nothing to worry about anymore. Highway 5 is a 543km (337mi) northsouth route in southern British Columbia, Canada. Interspersed among the chuckles and anecdotes, Davis imparted tremendous insight into what can go wrong when motorists are ill-prepared to take on Mother Nature in a battle that she usually wins. You'll Have to go to the Southern Ocean off Antarctica, Dont Miss Springs Last Full Moon, the Strawberry Moon, Tropical Storm Cristobal Develops in Bay of Campeche, Cobbler Designs New Shoes for Social Distancing in Romania, ISS Crosses in Front of the Moon Captured in Rare Video, Cars Washed Away in El Salvador During Tropical Storm Amanda, England Cliff Collapse Leaves Houses Dangling, Murder Hornets Popping Up in New Places, Flooding Nightmare in Bangladesh Week after Cyclone Amphan, Heavy Rain Triggers Disastrous Mudslides in Southwestern China, Mosaic Floor Dating Back to the Roman Empire Discovered in Italy, Ancient Mass Extinction Linked to Collapsed Ozone Layer, India Under Attack From Insects, Outbreak and Oppressive Heat, Winters May Lose Its Punch as Climate Change Reduces Snowstorms. The Coquihalla approximately traces through the Cascade Mountainsthe route of the former Kettle Valley Railway, which existed between 1912 and 1958. It becomes a two-lane highway at Heffley Creek and the exit to Sun Peaks resorts, both of which indicate the final northern boundary of Kamloops. Signs along the Coquihalla Highway frequently warn drivers to be aware of sudden changes in weather. Wait until morning. In 1876 the Hope-Nicola Trail was built. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); This 'travel news' services website is privately owned. Pennask Summit Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector). We want your experiences too! Wow, is David Poile ever rolling out the red carpet for his GM successor Barry Trotz. 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: The Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area is located at the top of the pass on the Coquihalla Highway, approximately 45km (28mi) north of Hope. A particularly important intersection is the signal lights at Halston Drive, which is one of only two access points to the north half of Kamloops. Aspen Grove South Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), at Hwy 5A Junction, near Aspen Grove, looking south. Traffic volume on this section of highway is low compared to the Coquihalla and Kamloops sections of Highway 5. minor road condition | last updated Sat Mar 4 at 6:45 AM PST. Sadly, she was struck and killed by another motorist. Chance of snow 60%. Winds light and variable. It's a 12-mile hill for those of you watching from the United States and might end up in British Columbia going down one of the more notorious hills, made famous by the TV series, "Highway thru Hell." So we're going to do today, we're going to give you a bit of information on the descent down the hill from the Coquihalla summit. 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. A rescue is currently underway using helicopters to airlift people stuck between two landslides on Highway 7 near Agassiz. minor incident | last updated Sat Mar 4 at 6:32 AM PST. Low -4C. But being its a high mountain road, you have to be prepared and drive to the conditions. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Sometime in March? 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. Variably cloudy with snow showers. minor construction | last updated Tue Feb 28 at 12:40 PM PST. 5 day weather forecast Coquihalla , British Columbia If you have specific routes which you are interested in, you may want to identify those as well. The grade on the Snow Shed Hill between the Great Bear Snow Shed and Zopkios Brake Check is 8%. 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. Could you provide on how many times the Coquihalla has been closed during the winter months and whether that closure was due to an incident (i.e. Zopkios - Hwy 5, southbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit, looking northeast. can be used for maintenance on other BC highways. It is so-named because near Hope, it generally follows the Coquihalla River, for about 60 km (37 mi), and uses the Coquihalla Pass. Make sure your vehicle is in good shape with summer coolant and good brakes and tires. 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/. Privacy Agreement Al Quiring and his team of heavy-tow operators have been rescuing trapped drivers and their vehicles from the treacherous Coquihalla Highway in British Columbia for years. Snow level 1200 metres lowering to 900 metres in the afternoon. High 3C. Coquihalla Summit S Hwy 5, about 7 km north of Zopkios Brake Check, looking the south. 5 min read. The Coquihalla approximately traces through the Cascade Mountains the route of the former Kettle Valley Railway, which existed between 1912 and 1958. [25][26] The heavy amount of rain eventually caused several large washouts at multiple points along the highway, including the destruction of multiple bridges. The website is for information purposes only and we assume no liability for decisions made as a result of the information provided here. Thanks for your comment anonymous. The Smasher. Coquihalla Road Reports | REMINDER - #BCHwy5 CLOSED in #Coquihalla 2:20pm March 3 Mostly cloudy skies early. The list goes on. We are looking into this for you. Chance of snow 30%. At the top of this website, you provided good general statistical information. Job Listing Rules. Winter tires or chains are required on most routes in British Columbia from October 1 to April 30. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 km/h. won't privatize Coquihalla Highway", "Alberta highway shouldn't claim Coquihalla", "Actions to improve safety on B.C. Occasional snow showers. Established in 1986 and clocking in at a respectable 159 hectares, Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park is a truly magical place. 61km (38mi) and five interchanges north of the former toll plaza. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. What are the bunker looking things on the side of the highway? On November 14, 2021, a major storm in southern British Columbia damaged sections of the Coquihalla Highway and other routes in the area. It is not affiliated or sanctioned by the Government of BC, nor is it part of the provincial governments - DriveBC program or websites, operated by the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. High 1C. Next update time Mon Mar 6. Partly cloudy. Tough on what seemed like all cars except mine. Surviving B.C.'s infamous 'Highway Thru Hell' | Driving Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Title: Elevation and Grade Profile on Highway 5 - Coquihalla Pass Author: BC Ministry of Transporation Subject: Youre fatigued and the driving is its most treacherous. 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. Thanks for your comment! Larson Hill N Hwy 5 at Larson Hill, 36 km south of Merritt, looking to the north. Starting Thu Mar 9 at 9:00 AM PST until Thu Mar 9 at 4:00 PM PST. 2 Years Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. There were 32 fatal crashes between 2004 and 2013 (according to ICBC). Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park - Tripadvisor Alternate route via Hwy 1 and Hwy 3. PDF Hwy 5 - Coquihalla Pass - Gov People often leave after work not realizing that as the sun goes down the temperature drops, and the storm starts. Low -4C. 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. The road is named after Coquihalla River. The exit numbers on the Coquihalla are a continuation of those on Highway 1 west of Hope. High avalanche hazard between the start of Highway 5 and Exit 286: Merritt - 97C for 109.3 km (Hope to Merritt). Watch for traffic control. Initial descent is posted at 8% but it's really more than that. as rain batters province, leading to mudslides and flood warnings", "Relentless rain causing flooding, road closures and evacuations across B.C. Winds S at 10 to 15 km/h. 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. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing him on this very topic. This could include surveying, flagging and staking the right-of-way, mobilization of crews and equipment, preparing the right-of-way, clearing and grading, delivery and staging . The Trans-Canada Highway is your best bet for longest continuous stretch of road across Canada. Some of the old railroad grade is now part of the Trans-Canada Trail network, including the Othello Tunnels of the Coquihalla River section, which are accessible via exits from the Coquihalla Highway. The Coquihalla Highway - Phase 1, Hope to Merritt - was completed in time for Expo 86 in 1986. an accident) or some other factor? Zopkios Southbound S Hwy 5, southbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit, looking southwest. After leaving the concurrency it immediately crosses the South Thompson River and enters a First Nations Reserve, temporarily leaving Kamloops city limits. We encountered an issue signing you up. Britton Creek N Hwy 5, by Britton Creek Rest Area northbound turnoff, looking north. Snow showers. 7 day. Highway 5, in both directions. 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. Winds SW at 10 to 15 km/h. The ascent is particularly steep after passing northbound through the Great Bear snow shed. (I found the info on Wikipedia, but no explanation). Her deadly weapons of choice include sheets of ice, blinding snowstorms, and avalanches. OBEY ALL SIGNAGE. I am puzzled by the statistic Annual vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT): 3.3 million which appears in the page about the Coquihalla. Canadian Covid -19 Emergency border measures have ended. 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. 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]. Larson Hill S Hwy 5 at Larson Hill, 36 km south of Merritt, looking to the south. 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. el paso community college international students. Zopkios Southbound N Hwy 5, southbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit, looking northeast. If youre mired in the white stuff, so are rescue services, including ambulances, tow trucks and taxi cabs. 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. I saw this in the Vancouver Province this morning and wondered if it could be true it was easy to trace it to this web page. 3 Years Safe travels. Winds SE at 10 to 15 km/h. At this time, we are not considering making the Coquihalla a tolled route. [Canada] [OC] Descending The Smasher - Coquihalla Highway - Highway 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. Elkhart West Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 25 km east of Hwy 5A/97C Junction, looking west. Hello Greg. Ten earth structures (stopping dams and mounds) which you probably wouldnt notice because they are now covered with vegetation. Please select the number of verifiable months youve been driving professionally using your Class A CDL within the last 3 years. Chance of snow 60%. Discover our featured content. 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. Why the change? Chance of snow 60%. 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