[22] DriveBC keeps up to date with reports on Coquihalla Highway conditions, including live webcams in several locations. The tunnel entrance of the mountain pass on B.C.s Highway 5. tap here to see other videos from our team. This stretch of road, which carries 97 South and 5 North on the same lanes (and vice versa), is the only wrong-way concurrency in British Columbia. Now they just drop bombs from the helicopters in the exact location of the avalanche hazard. We hope that this information is helpful. It encompasses 5,750 hectares (14,200 acres) of forested mountain slopes stretching from Portia Peak in the southwest to Coquihalla Lakes in the northeast. According to Sto;lo oral history, the skw'exweq (water babies or naiads, 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. 1. Signs along the Coquihalla Highway frequently warn drivers to be aware of sudden changes in weather. (Submitted by Jeremiah Steberl) B.C.'s Coquihalla Highway could be . 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. Before tackling a merciless winter highway, be sure youre carrying some basic necessities, such as thermoses of hot fluids, food, warm clothes, blanket, flashlight, and proper winter footwear. Snowfall of 2-3cm. 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. I am now glued to the TV show Highway Thru Hell and have a much better understanding of the miss-adventures of travel along the Coquihalla and how easily accidents can happen. 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. [7][10] The total cost for the highway between Hope and Merritt was approximately $848 million. Highway 5 continues east for 12km (7.5mi) concurrently with Highways1 and 97, through Kamloops. The Coquihalla is one of the most popular highway mountain passes in BC. where is the smasher on the coquihalla - foundationsduhok.com High 2C. You've probably driven it a few times, whether as a commuter or a BC traveller, or TONS of times as a commercial driver. Coquihalla Road Reports (And Area) | kamloops to merrit is absolutely Winds NE at 10 to 15 km/h. From south to north, the following intersections are observed along Highway 5:[29][30], Highway 5 passing through Thompson Plateau. 1244 m.) is a highway summit along the Coquihalla Highway in British Columbia, Canada. Larson Hill S Hwy 5 at Larson Hill, 36 km south of Merritt, looking to the south. 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. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Signs along the Coquihalla Highway frequently warn drivers to be aware of sudden changes in weather. Go prepared, or go home. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Tucked away in southern British Columbia, make sure you get your vehicle and yourself well-prepared before driving this road. The Coq starts near sea level at Hope and then gains over a kilometre in elevation in less than 50km distance. Winds NE at 10 to 15 km/h. Downtown Valemount as seen from the west side of Highway 5. In British Columbia, motorists will find such information at www.shiftintowinter.ca. Specific highway corridor? I will be driving that route every other month during the non-snow tire months. And make no bones about it, being stuck on the Coq or any other remote highway when the mercury dips to minus 27 degrees Celcius is nothing short of a battle for survival. 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. 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. '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. Coquihalla Summit to Othello Road Pipeline Construction July 2021 - September 2023. Highway rescuer Jamie Davis, featured in the Discovery Channels Highway Thru Hell reality show, has seen it all on B.C.s infamous Highway 5. minor incident | last updated Tue Feb 28 at 12:59 PM PST. Its not like bombing around in Vancouver or Toronto, says Davis. Britton Creek S Hwy 5, by Britton Creek Rest Area northbound turnoff, looking south. If youre mired in the white stuff, so are rescue services, including ambulances, tow trucks and taxi cabs. Zopkios - Hwy 5, southbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit, looking northeast. Its totally paved. I have not been able to find information on Surrey Lake Summit on the website. Highway 1, 3, 7 and 5 in Coquihalla suffered extensive damage . It also experiences extreme snowfall rates, with accumulation sometimes exceeding 10 cm per hour. It was a toll road until 2008. Coquihalla Lakes S Hwy 5, 61km south of Merritt, looking to the south. Coquihalla conditions today The ascent to the Coquihalla Summit is very steep, especially from the south. Winds light and variable. [16][17], Effective July 2, 2014, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure increased the speed limit of Coquihalla Highway from 110km/h (68mph) to 120km/h (75mph) after conducting an engineering assessment and province-wide speed review. Winds SE at 10 to 15 km/h. Privacy | 3 day. Expect minor delays. Zopkios Northbound N Hwy 5, northbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit looking to the north. In addition to getting a 2023 first-round pick and solid prospect in Reid Schaefer in the Mattias Ekholm trade . I would like to know, too. tom mcloughlin friday the 13th. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. What you see are likely the old avalanche howitzer guns and bases that are roadside within avalanche paths. [7], On May 16, 1986, Phase 1 was officially opened and Highway 5 was re-routed between Hope and Merritt; its construction required 31 bridges and underpasses and over 3.7million tonnes (4,100,000 short tons) of gravel. On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, the Coquihalla Highway was reopened to non- essential traffic from Hope to Merritt. Chance of snow 60%. Helmer Lake Highway 5, 24 km north of Merritt at Helmer Interchange, looking to the north. Winds light and variable. [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". We hope that this is helpful. We have the information but it is in a graph format and this platform wont support graphics in the comments. minor construction | last updated Thu Mar 2 at 4:51 PM PST. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 km/h. ), Collisions (when a vehicle crashes into something) and the subsequent investigation and clean up, BC day long weekend (29,114 on August 1, 2014), Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT): 10,569, 3.3 million Annual VKT/km (VKT/km represents the annual vehicle kilometres travelled, divided by the length of the roadway), Busiest traffic month: August (based on 2012 stats), The Coquihalla has twice or more the volume of traffic compared to any other highway that crosses a mountain path in BC (based on 2012 stats). This group is for the idiots that drive the Coquihalla Highway that think they are experts drivers. Zopkios Southbound N Hwy 5, southbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit, looking northeast. If the total distance travelled is 3.3 million km, this works out to less than 1 km per trip. Coquihalla Highway is one of the worst roads in winters Vehicle crash on Coquihalla Highway cleared - BC News Videos showing interesting road situations. Coquihalla Summit N Hwy 5, about 7 km north of Zopkios Brake Check, looking north. Single lane alternating traffic will be in effect. We hope that answered some questions or piqued your curiosity around the Coq. The Coquihalla Highway starts south of the junction with Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3) situated at the uninhabited region of Othello. [citation needed] As a result of the washout events, the Canadian Forces Cormorant helicopters completed rescue evacuations of stranded motorists on the highway. Established in 1986 and clocking in at a respectable 159 hectares, Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park is a truly magical place. Until Sat Mar 4. #Coquihalla 2:20pm March 3 ", "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. What are the concrete bunkers visible along the #5 highway between Hope and Merritt? 3-7cm of snow expected. High -1C. His "conviction that the route provided important benefits and an essential link to B.C. Thanks for your comment! Watch for traffic control personnel. Think again. Collisions, close calls, and anything interesting. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Winds light and variable. Highway Thru Hell | Episode 4 Wreck Analysis Upload, share, download and embed your videos. Despite recent challenges on the lower portion of the highway, the Coquihalla does indeed remain a marvel of engineering. Winds light and variable. Starting Thu Mar 9 at 9:00 AM PST until Thu Mar 9 at 4:00 PM PST. Does an agency record statistics for the number of highway road closures per year? Jamie Davis behind the wheel of one of his heavy rescue tow trucks. Highway 5, in both directions. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. minor road condition | last updated Sat Mar 4 at 6:45 AM PST. [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. According to ICBC there were 32 fatal crashes between 2004 and 2013, and an estimated 400-500 accidents occur during the winter seasons. The pass is named after the Coquihalla River, from which the highway also derives its name. Davis strongly discourages driving at night. Repairs are being made. Rule of thumb conversion from water equivalent to snowfall is about 10:1, so that would have been approximately 1150 cm of snow, but we were talking precipitation, not snow depth. won't privatize Coquihalla Highway", "Alberta highway shouldn't claim Coquihalla", "Actions to improve safety on B.C. [4], Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area is a provincial recreation area centred around Coquihalla Summit. The grade on the Snow Shed Hill between the Great Bear Snow Shed and Zopkios Brake Check is 8%. That's a LOT of white stuff coming down. [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. Why pay for it again? Stay tuned. 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. So when we said 1150 mm falls as snow, then thats the water equivalent of the snow. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Winter surprises are a real fear, sudden snow storms, blowing snow and fog, often make winter driving hazardous and slow. Services for drivers are provided in the major towns. 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?. Winds S at 10 to 15 km/h. Tomorrow. Zopkios Southbound N Hwy 5, northbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit looking to the south. Hi there Cass thanks for your question. Subscribe to our Blind-Spot Monitor newsletters to catch up on all the top automotive stories of the week, Subscribe to our newsletters to catch up on all the top automotive stories of the week, Best in Class: 7 of the most fuel-efficient SUVs of 2023, Ontario insurer to issue free trackers to oft-targeted cars, Motor Mouth: This patent may be Fords dumbest idea ever, Driving By Numbers: Canada's 10 best-selling electric vehicles in 2022, News Roundup: Free trackers for oft-stolen cars, Canadas top-selling EVs, and more, Surviving B.C. A long steep 8%. Low -4C. NO highway should be demonized because of the idiots who dont know what they are doing. Variably cloudy with snow showers. It refers to a fishing rock near the mouth of what is now known as the Coquihalla River. Chance of snow 50%. Bottom line: be certain you can spend five hours or possibly a day or two by yourself in a snowstorm. [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]. Chance of snow 50%. Mountain pass in British Columbia, Canada, Southern approach to Coquihalla Summit as viewed from, List of mountain passes of the Cascade Range, "Editorials: Farewell to a prime politician", "Coquihalla Highway reopens after massive avalanche control operation", BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways Infopage, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coquihalla_Summit&oldid=1138202497, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from November 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 14:53. It is the highest point on the highway between the cities of Hope and Merritt. 1 Year It looks like the statistics presented on the page dont go back to 1986, when it originally opened, but you might be able to reach out to ICBC for more information. minor construction | last updated Tue Feb 28 at 12:40 PM PST. These defenses include: Road alignment designed to use Boston Bar creek as a natural catchment area. A series of protected areas were established along the route in 1986. [13], On September 26, 2008, the provincial government permanently lifted the Coquihalla tolls, effective 1:00 pm that day. Low -9C. 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. In its whole length there is only one traffic signal, which is in the town of Valemount. The ascent to the Coquihalla Summit is very steep, especially from the south. Members are encouraged to submit articles about driving the Coquihalla. Too much horsepower with too little brains. A rescue is currently underway using helicopters to airlift people stuck between two landslides on Highway 7 near Agassiz.
where is the smasher on the coquihalla