Coquihalla Highway returns to four-lane traffic after catastrophic flooding

Drivers using the Coquihalla Highway are no longer getting bottlenecked down to one lane where bridges were destroyed by last year's catastrophic flooding.

Three bridges damaged by an atmospheric river in November 2021 are now open to four-lane traffic, according to a Ministry of Transportation media release.

Although traffic has returned to its regular capacity, some of the fixes are temporary and repair work will continue late into 2023, where drivers will noticed construction zones and lower speed limits.

READ MORE: Gang unit involved in search for armed suspects during Coquihalla closure near Merritt

Contractors taking on the project were Peter Kiewit & Sons, Emil Anderson Construction and the Chawathil First Nation.

The damage occurred on Nov. 14, 2021, as a result of heavy rain and flooding. Numerous sites along the Coquihalla between Hope and Merritt were damaged, which included several collapsed bridges.

The province scrambled to reopen the highway and directed more than 300 workers with 200 pieces of heavy equipment to move more than 400,000 cubic metres of gravel and rock. It was reopened to commercial traffic on Dec. 20, 2021, and to regular traffic Jan. 19.

“This is another momentous achievement as we rebuild our highways following last year’s storms,” transportation minister Minister Rob Fleming said in the release. “By reopening the Coquihalla to four lanes, we’re increasing safety and reducing congestion. This is great news for people, industry and the provincial economy as we head into another busy travel season.”

To contact a reporter for this story, email Dan Walton or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.