Coquihalla stays closed indefinitely; Hwy 97 also shut down
HOPE, B.C. — A major stretch of the Coquihalla between Hope and Merritt, B.C. will more than likely remain closed for the rest of the week, transportation officials told local media.
According to CTV news, avalanche threats have not subsided and continuing bad weather is still restricting work crews from placing explosives to knock down potential snow slides.
Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon, who surveyed the Interior route yesterday, confirmed that weather and visibility is still too poor to dispatch helicopters to the top of the avalanche chutes.
The highway has been closed since last Thursday. Drivers are being rerouted to Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon, or Highway 3 via Princeton.
Meanwhile, Highway 97, between the Mackenzie Junction north of Prince George and Chetwynd, is also closed a slide rolled over the roadway yesterday afternoon.
A truck driver was reportedly caught in the avalanche, but was dug out by other travelers and escaped without major injuries.
— with files from CTV and Canadian Press
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