Coquihalla Highway closed in both directions as sinkhole repairs continue
The main highway between B.C.'s Lower Mainland and Interior regions remained closed Saturday, more than 36 hours after it first partially shut down for 'emergency sinkhole repairs' Thursday night.
The closure was first reported by DriveBC at around 8:30 p.m. Thursday night at a location between the Portia and Zopkios Brake Check exits, about three kilometres south of the Great Bear Snowshed passageway.
At first, only the northbound lanes were closed to traffic, but the highway has been closed in both directions since 9 p.m. Friday.
DriveBC said Friday that crews were initially hoping to let northbound traffic through during the afternoon, but 'unforeseen geotechnical circumstances' forced it to delay its next update on the closure to 5 p.m. that day.
The road remained closed in both directions between Hope and Merritt as of 8:30 a.m. Saturday, and DriveBC said its next update on the matter was scheduled for 4 p.m.
'Please note this is NOT an estimated time of reopening,' the agency said in a social media post.
With the Coquihalla Highway – also known as Highway 5 – closed, travellers between the Lower Mainland and the Interior are advised to take either Highway 1 or Highway 3 to get to their destinations.
With files from The Canadian Press
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