It is located just south of the former toll booth plaza on the Coquihalla Highway, about 50 km (31 mi) north of Hope, and 65 km (40 mi) south of Merritt and is the divide between the Coquihalla River and the Coldwater River. Hes been the one constant along the hellish stretch of road that truckers rely upon, and as such hes seen it all more than once. major incident | last updated Fri Mar 3 at 4:53 PM PST. The key phrase being: know before you go. Winds SW at 10 to 15 km/h. Variably cloudy with snow showers. Washrooms are temporarily closed between Exit 228: Coquihalla Lakes Rd and Exit 221: Falls Lake Rd for 0.7 km (6 km north of Coquihalla Summit). Hi Sarah, Then partly to mostly cloudy overnight. It soon passes through the community of Valemount where a traffic signal is located. We have sent this question forward to the area operations manager for review. This rock is a good platform for spearing salmon. 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. The Coquihalla approximately traces through the Cascade Mountains the route of the former Kettle Valley Railway, which existed between 1912 and 1958. The location of the former toll booth is 13km (8mi) north of the snow shed, passing through another interchange and the Low around -10C. The B.C. premier", "New route changed the face of the province forever", "Construction of the Coquihalla: Still Amazing After 30 Years", "B.C. Winds light and variable. I Need CDL Training 30km (19mi) north of Little Fort, while continuing to follow the North Thompson and the CN Railway, Highway 5 reaches the resort community of Clearwater where a roundabout provides access to Wells Gray Provincial Park. Stunning scenery and an engineering marvel. To get a comparison I went to easily available statistics from Alberta, http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/Content/docType181/production/LinkTrafficVolumeVehicleClassTravelESAL2014.pdf. Wait until morning. 30 km (19 mi) north of Little Fort, while continuing to follow the North Thompson and the CN Railway, Highway 5 reaches the community of Clearwater. On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, the Coquihalla Highway was reopened to non- essential traffic from Hope to Merritt. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Road closed. Until Sat Mar 4. Next it passes Tte Jaune Cache and crosses the Fraser River, after which it immediately meets Highway16 in a partial interchange; making its northern terminus. 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. 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. Mostly cloudy skies early. Chance of snow 40%. Jan 30, 2013 Surrey, BC 0 This is The Smasher on BC's Coquihalla Highway. Safe travels. [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". Crews will have cleared the road, and youll be fresh., Davis goes on to say that the weather on the Coq, and in fact all mountain roads, can change in 20 minutes or less, and all the best forecasts can be wrong you just dont know.. 1. NO highway should be demonized because of the idiots who dont know what they are doing. Touring the world with friends one mile and pub at a time; southlake carroll basketball. Periods of rain except periods of snow near the summit. Depending on what you want to see (all closures in BC? Its a fine highway. The speed limit is 100km/h (62mph) for the most part except in towns, where it can drop to as low as 50km/h (31mph). Without your consent employers will not be able to contact with job offers, would you like to opt-in now? [25][26] The heavy amount of rain eventually caused several large washouts at multiple points along the highway, including the destruction of multiple bridges. Powerful engines, harsh weather, and steep drop-offs are only a few of the elements that have defined Highway Thru Hell. Snow showers. Road construction work between Exit 231: Mine Creek Rd and Exit 250: Larson Hill for 18.6 km (31 to 12 km north of Coquihalla Summit). tom mcloughlin friday the 13th. Can you guys find out the answer to Brians question? Check out these related links: Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ae97b9131b164e536984c2e38dcabe60" );document.getElementById("b69d9e56eb").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Sowhats the grade for north of the snow shed? ), 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). minor construction | last updated Wed Mar 1 at 8:21 AM PST. On Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, the Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5) will reopen to regular vehicle traffic between Hope and Merritt. Pennask Summit Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 74 km west of Kelowna, looking east. Thanks for your message. Chance of snow 60%. Low -4C. Forecast issued: 3:45 PM PST Monday 6 February 2023. Hes animated and passionate when he talks about what he has seen, and is genuinely concerned for the well-being of all folks travelling the Highway Thru Hell, whether by car or by Freightliner. minor incident | last updated Sat Mar 4 at 6:32 AM PST. A welcome email is on its way. If youre mired in the white stuff, so are rescue services, including ambulances, tow trucks and taxi cabs. Pennask Summit Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector). 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. High 2C. Britton Creek S Hwy 5, by Britton Creek Rest Area northbound turnoff, looking south. The Coquihalla Valley has long been a major transportation route from the coast to the interior. Nighttime driving is the worst for this, and the most dangerous. Highway 5 continues east for 7 km (4 mi) concurrent with Highways 1 and 97 through Kamloops. Chance of snow 50%. 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. High near 0C. Each company we work with has specific experience requirements for their drivers. Services for drivers are provided in the major towns. Winter tires or chains are required on most routes in British Columbia from October 1 to April 30. C in cold winter weather. Snow deposit removal between Brenda Mine Rd and Pennask Summit for 10.1 km (Pennask Summit). WIDE LOADS OVER 4.5 METERS USE BOTH SOUTHBOUND LANES AT BOTTLE TOP BRIDGE. Safe travels. If Hell was cold I'd agree with them. 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. 61km (38mi) and five interchanges north of the former toll plaza. Highway 97C then travels 6 km (4 mi) west from Ashcroft to where it converges with Highway 1, which takes Highway 97C north for its final 5 km (3 mi) to its end at Highway 97 in Cache Creek. Winds light and variable. Once the roads are passable, Davis or one of his drivers will come back with gas, but be prepared to pay. The toll booth once marked the halfway point of the formerly tolled Hope-to-Merritt portion of the highway. Chance of snow 60%. High 2C. 7 day. Winds SE at 10 to 15 km/h. Winds SE at 10 to 15 km/h. Variably cloudy with snow showers. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing him on this very topic. It is the highest point on the highway between the cities of Hope and Merritt. Old toll plaza washrooms closed. Variable clouds with snow showers. Why Are Workers Doing the Safety Dance on the Sea-to-Sky? If the total distance travelled is 3.3 million km, this works out to less than 1 km per trip. 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. Compact snow. Wildfire Service said. The ascent to the Coquihalla Summit is very steep, especially from the south. North of Barriere it encounters a junction with Highway 24 in the village of Little Fort. In addition to getting a 2023 first-round pick and solid prospect in Reid Schaefer in the Mattias Ekholm trade . Coquihalla conditions today. Alternate route via Hwy 1 and Hwy 3. Coquihalla Lakes S Hwy 5, 61km south of Merritt, looking to the south. There were 32 fatal crashes between 2004 and 2013 (according to ICBC). I was wondering if you had the information on the percent grade climbing up Surrey Lake Summit. It requires skill to drive. At high elevations it can sometimes get to be -30 deg. 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. A series of protected areas were established along the route in 1986. From 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM PST on Friday and Saturday. There isnt actually a single number to answer the question, because freezing levels very so much in the mountains around the Coquihalla. I will be driving that route every other month during the non-snow tire months. Snow showers. The travel time between Hope to Kamloops is approximately 2 hours. Davis strongly discourages driving at night. Single lane alternating traffic will be in effect. government privatizing toll highway", "B.C. Why we already paid for it plus some. Today. Despite recent challenges on the lower portion of the highway, the Coquihalla does indeed remain a marvel of engineering. Discussion in 'Trucker Videos' started by TractorTrailer, Mar 24, 2013. Compact snow. The Coquihalla Highway - Phase 1, Hope to Merritt - was completed in time for Expo 86 in 1986. High avalanche hazard between the start of Highway 5 and Exit 286: Merritt - 97C for 109.3 km (Hope to Merritt). The area retains some remnants of the Kettle Valley Railway which travelled this route from early 1900s until 1961. What you see are likely the old avalanche howitzer guns and bases that are roadside within avalanche paths. Highway 5 was the only highway in British Columbia to have tolls; a typical passenger vehicle toll was C$10. Highway 5 begins in the south at its junction with Highway 3 at an uninhabited location known as Othello, 7 km (4 mi) east of Hope (named after a nearby siding on the Kettle Valley Railway, which used many Shakespearean names). 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. But how well do you know this stretch of highway? [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. Highway 5, southbound. Chance of snow 60%. Sometime in March? Comstock Highway 5 at Comstock Rd, about 15 km south of Merritt, looking to the north. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. The Coquihalla highway. 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?. In May 2022, I drove the Coquihalla to/from my way to Edmonton for the first time. 3 Years Despite the entire route being signed as part of the Yellowhead Highway, the portion of Highway 5 south of Kamloops is also known as the Coquihalla Highway while the northern portion is known as the Southern Yellowhead Highway. Highway 5 begins south at the junction with Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3) at uninhabited Othello, 7km (4mi) east of Hope (named after a nearby siding on the Kettle Valley Railway, which used many Shakespearean names). Too much horsepower with too little brains. Low -6C. Coquihalla Highway is an extreme freeway located in British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province. The heartache in Daviss voice was palpable as he described the accident scene. The Coquihalla Snowshed Protocol: 10 Steps to Highway Safety. The pass is named Kw'ikw'iya:la in the Halq'emeylem language used by the Stl, which means "stingy container" and refers specifically to a fishing rock near the mouth of what is now known as the Coquihalla River. Until Sun Mar 5 at 3:00 AM PST. Chance of snow 50%. https://www.tranbc.ca/2012/11/01/5-things-to-learn-from-watching-highway-thru-hell/, https://www.tranbc.ca/2013/01/09/highway-thru-hell-the-complete-tranbc-interview-series/, https://www.icbc.com/about-icbc/newsroom/Pages/Statistics.aspx, https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/historical-drivebc-events, http://tranbc.ca/2016/03/24/what-its-like-to-watch-an-avalanche-from-a-helicopter/, http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/cycling/cycling-regulations-restrictions-rules, http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/driving/traveller-information/seasonal/winter-driving/winter-tires-and-chains, B.C. Low -8C. A few snow showers developing later in the day. kamloops to merrit is absolutely treacherous right now, blowing blizzards and low vis, i can imagine the smasher will be 10x worse Winter surprises are a real fear, sudden snow storms, blowing snow and fog, often make winter driving hazardous and slow. 2.2m members in the Roadcam community. A rescue is currently underway using helicopters to airlift people stuck between two landslides on Highway 7 near Agassiz. 1,150mm is a measly 1 meter and 15 cm . 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. Integrating BC Transportation Travel News Services and Products. We hope that this is helpful. Highway 97Cbegins near Trepanier, at a location on Highway 97 known as Drought Hill. Becoming partly cloudy later. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The highway has since been fully reopened, allowing full traffic from Hope to Kamloops. Scattered snow showers during the evening. Winds E at 10 to 15 km/h. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Hes the constant that can be relied upon when self-reliance runs out. 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). If you have specific routes which you are interested in, you may want to identify those as well. Brace yourself winter is here. 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. This year we were way below average, receiving only 674cm of snowfall. It also experiences extreme snowfall rates, with accumulation sometimes exceeding 10 cm per hour. CDL Grad, No Experience Unless my logic is incorrect, something is wrong here. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. As we joked about the stupidity that plays out on Canadian roads day after day, our conversation took on a mournful note as Davis talked about the tragedies that also occur and how they could often be avoided. Variable clouds with snow showers. 35km (22mi) north of Othello, after passing through five interchanges, Highway 5 reaches the landmark Great Bear snow shed. Aspen Grove South Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), at Hwy 5A Junction, near Aspen Grove, looking south. Make sure your vehicle is in good shape with summer coolant and good brakes and tires. But being its a high mountain road, you have to be prepared and drive to the conditions. [7][10] The total cost for the highway between Hope and Merritt was approximately $848 million. 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. Winds S at 10 to 15 km/h. I have not been able to find information on Surrey Lake Summit on the website. We are looking into this for you. It crosses a low divide between the Thompson River and Fraser River drainages entering the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. Hope that this helps. [2] After 10 years in office, Waterland retired from the Cabinet in 1986 a few months after seeing this part of the project through to its completion. 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. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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 . To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. Hello Greg. From there it proceeds 109km (68mi) further north through the heart of the Columbia Mountains. Hello John, I do not see a lot of information about bicycles on the highway. Coquihalla Summit - Hwy 5, about 7 km north of Zopkios Brake Check, looking south. 's Interior helped to convince reluctant Cabinet members of the necessity of the third route to the Interior". The current Highway 5 is not the first highway in B.C. Low around -5C. 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. In spring, summer or fall, it's a breeze, but in winter there are at least 400-500 accidents and plenty of fatalities. won't privatize Coquihalla Highway", "Alberta highway shouldn't claim Coquihalla", "Actions to improve safety on B.C. 2023 Driving, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Hope that this information is helpful. Coquihalla Summit to Othello Road Pipeline Construction July 2021 - September 2023. Stay tuned. It refers to a fishing rock near the mouth of what is now known as the Coquihalla River. REMINDER - #BCHwy5 CLOSED in both directions between #HopeBC and #Merritt due to heavy congestion and extreme winter weather. Thanks for your questions. Southern Yellowhead Highway 5, southbound. The ascent to the Coquihalla Summit is very steep, especially from the south, and is particularly steep north of the Great Bear snow shed. High 1C. Is it true Surrey Lake Summit was formerly called Clapperton Lake Summit? Occasional snow showers. [citation needed] As a result of the washout events, the Canadian Forces Cormorant helicopters completed rescue evacuations of stranded motorists on the highway. The length of the Coquihalla, per construction phase: vs. the old Highway 3 Route from Kelowna area you save approximately 70km of travel or/and an 1h30mins, vs the old Fraser Canyon Route (Trans Canada) from Kamloops via the TCH you save approximately 70km and 1h 10mins, Phase 1 opened in May 1986 (Hope to Merritt), Phase 2 was completed on Sept 4, 1987 (Merritt toKamloops), Phase 3 was completed on Oct 1, 1990 (The Coquihalla Connector from Merritt toWest Kelowna), Named the Coquihalla because it generally follows the Coquihalla River and uses the Coquihalla Pass. Davis went onto emphasize the importance of staying put, and not stepping onto the highway without proper reflective gear and safety equipment. The Trans-Canada Highway is your best bet for longest continuous stretch of road across Canada. 1244 m.) is a highway summit along the Coquihalla Highway in British Columbia, Canada. Expect a fee of $200 or more to relieve the empty feeling. social media users statistics 2019 There are some portions of the Coquihalla where cycling is prohibited. On December 20, 2021, the Coquihalla Highway was reopened to essential traffic, with non- essential traffic being diverted towards Highway 99. [1] It is the highest point on the highway between the cities of Hope and Merritt. Built to enhance regional tourism and to lighten traffic on the busy trucking routes, the 303 km, 4-lane highway has 3 segments. Highway 97C. The Coquihalla approximately traces through the Cascade Mountainsthe route of the former Kettle Valley Railway, which existed between 1912 and 1958. Thanks for connecting with us here. Winds E at 10 to 15 km/h. 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. 35 km (22 mi) north of Othello, after passing through five interchanges, Highway 5 reaches the Great Bear snow shed, which is a landmark on the route. Winter tires are required on high mountain passes in BC until March 31st at the least. 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. You can find detailed informations about: wind speed, wind direction, pressure, temperature, humidity and visibility at Coquihalla. But thats not the entire story because there are signs on the highway directing bicyclists, so clearly it can be used. Check Weather and Road Conditions at the Great Bear Snowshed Highway Cam Road Condition Reports for the Coquihalla Hwy5 and Highway 97C It is typically open all year round, with the occasional closure in winters due to dangerous weather conditions. We want your experiences too! Canadian Covid -19 Emergency border measures have ended. Coquihalla Conditions for Hwy 5 Coquihalla highway & Hwy 97C Okanagan connector for today. People often leave after work not realizing that as the sun goes down the temperature drops, and the storm starts. [21] Global News listed the stretch between Merritt and Hope as one of the deadliest highways in BC. In CDL School Now Sunshine and clouds mixed. Highway 5. Coquihalla Summit is not actually the highest point on the Coquihalla Highway, rather the Surrey Lake Summit[clarification needed] at 1,244m (4,081ft) is the highest point on the Coquihalla, which goes from Hope to the Highway 1 interchange outside of Kamloops. Elkhart East Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 25 km east of Hwy 5A/97C Junction, looking east. According to ICBC there were 32 fatal crashes between 2004 and 2013, and an estimated 400-500 accidents occur during the winter seasons. Between Hope and Kamloops, Highway 5 is known as the Coquihalla Highway (colloquially "the Coq"; pronounced "coke"). Coquihalla Great Bear Snowshed S Hwy 5, Great Bear Snowshed looking to the south. While many other service providers come and go, Davis remains. Periods of rain except periods of snow near the summit. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. 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 . I would appreciate your clarification of this statistic. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Cloudy with snow showers developing for the afternoon. as rain batters province, leading to mudslides and flood warnings", "Relentless rain causing flooding, road closures and evacuations across B.C. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. 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. The Discovery Channel did a series called Highway Through Hell about this stretch of road. 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. Signup for our newsletter to get notified about our next ride. The list goes on. Thanks for your comment. At this time, we are not considering making the Coquihalla a tolled route. Chance of snow 60%. Thanks for your comment! 's infamous 'Highway Thru Hell'. High 2C. [28] Does an agency record statistics for the number of highway road closures per year? The Coquihalla highway in BC, Canada is frequently traveled by Canadians and Americans. Highway 5, in both directions. where is the smasher on the coquihalla. 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.
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