It is so-named because near Hope, it generally follows the Coquihalla River, for about 60km (37mi), and uses the Coquihalla Pass. minor incident | last updated Sat Mar 4 at 6:32 AM PST. Periods of rain except periods of snow near the summit. Highway 97Cbegins near Trepanier, at a location on Highway 97 known as Drought Hill. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. The data and electronic links provided in this web site are for informational purposes only and bchighway.com disclaims all responsibility for the accuracy of site content or linked information. High 3C. The key phrase being: know before you go. The tunnel entrance of the mountain pass on B.C.s Highway 5. tap here to see other videos from our team. High -1C. Vehicle crash on Coquihalla Highway cleared - BC News GENERAL STATS But thats not the entire story because there are signs on the highway directing bicyclists, so clearly it can be used. As Davis puts it, Its you, your vehicle, and a very lonesome feeling. While such words may be apropos for a hurtin song, they carry a far more serious meaning when delivered by Davis. This information is collected by ICBC heres their contact information: https://www.icbc.com/about-icbc/contact-us/Pages/default.aspx. To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. The highway 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. Lane Closure. It is a 186-kilometre (116mi) freeway, varying between four and six lanes with a speed limit of 120km/h (75mph) for most of its length. Elkhart East Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 25 km east of Hwy 5A/97C Junction, looking east. Ran it opening day may long weekend in 86 no signs for brake check at top of smasher it was quite the ride coming over the top at 100 km apparently motor ways put 6 in the runaway lanes that week so I was told. Videos showing interesting road situations. 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. 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. Snowfall of 2-3cm. Coquihalla Hwy. reopened but drivers told 'no stopping' due to To get a comparison I went to easily available statistics from Alberta, http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/Content/docType181/production/LinkTrafficVolumeVehicleClassTravelESAL2014.pdf. Vehicle recovery between Inks Lake Rd and Chuwhels Mountain Rd for 4.0 km (13 to 9 km south of Kamloops). Think AWD makes you invincible in the show? Winds SE at 10 to 15 km/h. Starting Wed Mar 8 at 9:00 AM PST until Fri Mar 10 at 5:00 PM PST. Highway 5, in both directions. minor road condition | last updated Sat Mar 4 at 6:45 AM PST. Chance of snow 50%. Low -4C. Highway 5, southbound. Periods of rain except periods of snow near the summit. I note that you give average daily traffic at 10,569 which works out to 3.9 million trips per year. Initial descent is posted at 8% but it's really more than that. 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. Please try again, 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. Collisions, close calls, and anything interesting. Utility work planned between Thunder Creek Bridge and Blue River Bridge for 13.5 km (Blue River). Stay tuned. High 2C. You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. Can you guys find out the answer to Brians question? At this time, we are not considering making the Coquihalla a tolled route. [15], In 2011, the British Columbia government replaced the standard British Columbia Highway 5 shields with Yellowhead Highway 5 shields south of Kamloops, which at the time drew some concern that the Coquihalla Highway would be officially renamed. All rights reserved. Safe travels! 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. Until Sat Mar 4. That's a LOT of white stuff coming down. Its an interesting stretch of highway that comes with its unique challenges but our district staff and maintenance contractors will continue to monitor the Coquihalla and keep you moving as efficiently and as safely as possible. [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. Aspen Grove North Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), at Hwy 5A Junction, near Aspen Grove, looking north. Snow showers. Both passenger and commercial vehicles rely on it as a primary connection between the Lower Mainland and the Interior. Highway 5 continues east for 12km (7.5mi) concurrently with Highways1 and 97, through Kamloops. But how well do you know this stretch of highway? Here is a website with more information about winter tires and where they are required in BC: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/driving/traveller-information/seasonal/winter-driving/winter-tires-and-chains. Highway 5, southbound. The closures of Highway 1 in the Fraser Valley along with the closure of other highways around the Lower Mainland,. Integrating BC Transportation Travel News Services and Products. Along with adequate provisions to maintain ones warmth and energy, there are the obvious car-related preparations, such as proper snow tires. Utility work planned between Harmon Rd and Vavenby Bridge Rd (Vavenby). Snow accumulations less than 2cm. [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. This is one of the most amazing stretches of roads in North America. Winter surprises are a real fear, sudden snow storms, blowing snow and fog, often make winter driving hazardous and slow. [3] Now free to drive, at the Coquihalla Lakes junction, the highway crosses from the Fraser Valley Regional District into the Thompson-Nicola Regional District. Coquihalla Summit - Weather Cams - British Columbia Highway News 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]. Snow showers before midnight. A long steep 8%. Next update time Mon Mar 6. The Coquihalla highway. Careful preparation for your trip will ensure that if, and when, things do go wrong, you are prepared for the situation. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. A rescue is currently underway using helicopters to airlift people stuck between two landslides on Highway 7 near Agassiz. Winds light and variable. Hi Sarah, Last updated Tue Feb 28 at 12:59 PM PST. 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. [28] It is located just south of the former toll booth plaza on the Coquihalla Highway, about 50 km north of Hope, and 65 km south of Merritt and is the divide between the Coquihalla River and the Coldwater River. Hwy 5 - Coquihalla Pass 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 0 1020 30405060 708090 100 Kilometers Elevation (meters) 1.5% 5.4% 8.5% 1.2% 4.7% Hope Merritt. It soon passes through the community of Valemount where a traffic signal is located. But how well do you know this stretch of highway? Low -9C. Share YOUR roads!We'vemorethan 13.000 roads but we want more! Our BC HighwayCams also have a weather feature on each cam which will give you an idea of forecasted weather along the route. Winds E at 10 to 15 km/h. Southbound travelers please use Britton creek rest Area exit 228. 1,244m (4,081ft) Coquihalla Pass. 5 day weather forecast Coquihalla , British Columbia 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. [6], In the 1960s, the Merritt Board of Trade began lobbying the B.C. Winter tires or chains are required on most routes in British Columbia from October 1 to April 30. 6-11 Months 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. Snow showers. I do not see a lot of information about bicycles on the highway. #Coquihalla 2:20pm March 3 After leaving the concurrency it immediately crosses the South Thompson River and enters a First Nations Reserve, temporarily leaving Kamloops city limits. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. 1. [7][10] The total cost for the highway between Hope and Merritt was approximately $848 million. Coquihalla Highway set to reopen to regular traffic | BC Gov News Coquihalla Highway | The Canadian Encyclopedia Low -11C. Tucked away in southern British Columbia, make sure you get your vehicle and yourself well-prepared before driving this road. Chance of snow 60%. Snow deposit removal between Brenda Mine Rd and Pennask Summit for 10.1 km (Pennask Summit). Today. Chance of snow 60%. It is typically open all year round, with the occasional closure in winters due to dangerous weather conditions. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. Some decrease in clouds late. Highway 5 proceeds northeast for another 107km (66mi), passing Vavenby and Avola en route to the community of Blue River: a popular heliskiing location. Downhill on Canada's Coquihalla Highway | Trucking Smart Then partly to mostly cloudy overnight. Do you guys know the annual snowfall for Thar peak? [11][14] Subsequently, the toll station and signs were dismantled. Occasional snow showers. 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. 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. I think that publishing the annual VKT would be more meaningful to the general public. Old toll plaza washrooms closed. In short, it all comes down to preparation, and this is what Davis really emphasized. to have this designation. Chance of snow 60%. OTHELLO TUNNELS (Hope) - 2023 What to Know BEFORE You Go - Tripadvisor 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. The Coquihalla highway in BC, Canada is frequently traveled by Canadians and Americans. The travel time between Hope to Kamloops is approximately 2 hours. I have driven the highway dozens of times, the majority being 97C, but lots to Vancouver too. 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. Without knowing exactly the location you are referring to exactly, we would guess that is what youve seen. Occasional snow showers. 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. Highway 5follows the North Thompson River north from Heffley Creek for approximately 54 km (34 mi), along a parallel course with a branch of the Canadian National Railway, passing through Barriere, to a junction with Highway 24 at Little Fort. Why pay for it again? Coquihalla Conditions Hwy 5 & Hwy 97C - British Columbia Highway News 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. The severe winter snow and winds threaten even the most experienced and best-equipped drivers. Highway 5. ICBC tracks these statistics here: https://www.icbc.com/about-icbc/newsroom/Pages/Statistics.aspx. Specific highway corridor? Winds SSW at 10 to 15 km/h. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 km/h. Highway 5, southbound. we might be able to provide more specific information). Powerful engines, harsh weather, and steep drop-offs are only a few of the elements that have defined Highway Thru Hell. Although it is scenic and modern built, it poses many travel hazards. '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. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. If youre mired in the white stuff, so are rescue services, including ambulances, tow trucks and taxi cabs. [27] 20 Details Behind The Making Of Highway Thru Hell - ScreenRant Zopkios Southbound N Hwy 5, northbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit looking to the south. Regardless, Highway 5 is designated as a core route of Canada's National Highway System. We are looking into this for you. where is the smasher on the coquihalla. Partly cloudy early, then some snow showers later in the day. In the line The Coquihalla averages 1,350mm of precipitation of which 1,150mm falls as snow, below the graph, you might want to change the units of measure. Edit your picks to remove vehicles if you want to add different ones. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 km/h. Highway 97C. Shortly after the junction it descends into the city of Kamloops where it meets Highways1 and 97 at a trumpet interchange. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Smasher Time | TruckersReport.com Trucking Forum | #1 CDL Truck Driver 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). Starting Thu Mar 9 at 9:00 AM PST until Thu Mar 9 at 4:00 PM PST. Larson Hill S Hwy 5 at Larson Hill, 36 km south of Merritt, looking to the south. 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. [4], Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area is a provincial recreation area centred around Coquihalla Summit. The Coquihalla is one of the most popular highway mountain passes in BC. While many other service providers come and go, Davis remains. 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/ High around 0C. Youve got to be a survivalist, he says. Low -4C. People often leave after work not realizing that as the sun goes down the temperature drops, and the storm starts. What are the bunker looking things on the side of the highway? 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 . A highway camera in the area shows the dark-coloured. 61 km (38 mi) and five interchanges later, the Coquihalla enters the city of Merritt at its south junction with Highway 5A and Highway 97C. Brace yourself winter is here. Pothole Lake West Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), near Pothole Lake about 7 km east of Aspen Grove, looking west. 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. Modern use of the pass began in 1986 after construction of the first phase of the Coquihalla Highway (from Hope to Merritt). Parts of the Coquihalla Highway were washed away in heavy rains near the Caroline Mine area close to Hope, B.C. Why we already paid for it plus some. government privatizing toll highway", "B.C. Avalanche chutes scar the mountainsides and are a visible reminder of the steep terrain that surrounds the highway. We hope that this information is helpful. I would appreciate your clarification of this statistic. 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. From there it proceeds 109km (68mi) further north through the heart of the Columbia Mountains. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Nonetheless, anyone planning a winter road trip is advised to check with their provincial highway services for road and weather reports. It is a major link connecting Vancouver to the BC inland. Chance of snow 60%. Winds light and variable. OBEY ALL SIGNAGE. 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. Environment Canada is calling for 15 to 25 centimetres of snow on the Coquihalla on Monday night along the section between Hope and Merritt. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. C in cold winter weather. So how does one ensure survival in such an epic struggle? Snow accumulations less than 2cm. British Columbia storm: Highway snaps in half, Vancouver cut off as I am puzzled by the statistic Annual vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT): 3.3 million which appears in the page about the Coquihalla. We hope that answered some questions or piqued your curiosity around the Coq. Occasional snow showers. Sign up to receive Driving.ca's Blind-Spot Monitor newsletter on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 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If Hell was cold I'd agree with them. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Low -6C. Coquihalla Summit - Wikipedia