We have sent this question forward to the area operations manager for review. From there it proceeds 109km (68mi) further north through the heart of the Columbia Mountains. But how well do you know this stretch of highway? The tunnel entrance of the mountain pass on B.C.s Highway 5. tap here to see other videos from our team. Major BC highway could reopen this weekend as new photos show huge Low -4C. Highway 5 proceeds northeast for another 107km (66mi), passing Vavenby and Avola en route to the community of Blue River: a popular heliskiing location. Winds light and variable. The Coquihalla section was a toll road until 2008. Its one of the worst roads in all of North America in winters. The road is named after Coquihalla River. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Stunningly beautiful in the Summer! Snow showers before midnight. When can you count on there being no more snow on the Coq? It was a little nerve wracking in my little Toyota Matrix but I am glad I did it. Compact snow. The Southern Yellowhead highway is the northern section of Highway 5, this section is 314km (195mi) long. Explosives, dropped from helicopters, and three days were needed to clear it. Edit your picks to remove vehicles if you want to add different ones. Coquihalla Road Reports (And Area) | kamloops to merrit is absolutely I will be driving that route every other month during the non-snow tire months. [4], Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area is a provincial recreation area centred around Coquihalla Summit. Snow showers. The Sumas Prairie area of Abbotsford was put on evacuation order Monday evening. All rights reserved. Part of the Highway 5, the road is193 km (119 miles) long, running north-south from Kamloops to Hope via Merritt. 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). Could you tell me what the annual accident statistics are for the last five years? Its a fine highway. Coquihalla Summit in BC is a chillout in high mountains It also experiences extreme snowfall rates, with accumulation sometimes exceeding 10 cm per hour. On Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, the Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5) will reopen to regular vehicle traffic between Hope and Merritt. Chance of snow 50%. But how well do you know this stretch of highway? 's infamous 'Highway Thru Hell'. Her deadly weapons of choice include sheets of ice, blinding snowstorms, and avalanches. The toll for a typical passenger vehicle on the highway was C$10. 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. How confusing! I was hoping you could either confirm or deny this. Zopkios - Hwy 5, southbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit, looking northeast. I plan on riding van to Calgary in June 2016. Families headed for ski trips, folks on business, and of course the inept holiday traveller so well-satirized by Clark Griswold in National Lampoons Vacation series. I am puzzled by the statistic Annual vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT): 3.3 million which appears in the page about the Coquihalla. British Columbia storm: Highway snaps in half, Vancouver cut off as 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. [7][10] The total cost for the highway between Hope and Merritt was approximately $848 million. Hope that this helps. His "conviction that the route provided important benefits and an essential link to B.C. We have the information but it is in a graph format and this platform wont support graphics in the comments. It refers to a fishing rock near the mouth of what is now known as the Coquihalla River. The Coquihalla is one of the most popular highway mountain passes in BC. Snowfall amount 4 cm near the summit. 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. Also the total trips in addition to the average per day these are impressive numbers showing the importance of the Coquihalla to travellers in BC. Snowfall amount 5 cm near the summit. Variable clouds with snow showers. Job Listing Rules. Coquihalla Highway could reopen for commercial use by end of - CBC 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. Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. 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. which shows MVKM (Million Vehicle Kilometres) for many highway segments. Built to enhance regional tourism and to lighten traffic on the busy trucking routes, the 303 km, 4-lane highway has 3 segments. Britton Creek S Hwy 5, by Britton Creek Rest Area northbound turnoff, looking south. This information is collected by ICBC heres their contact information: https://www.icbc.com/about-icbc/contact-us/Pages/default.aspx. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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. Watch for traffic control. Collisions, close calls, and anything interesting. 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). High around 0C. Brenda Mine East Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 22 km west of 97/97C Junction, looking east. If theres anyone qualified to deliver a life-saving rant to those tackling Canadas winter highways, its got to be Davis. government for a new highway route to Hope, including a vehicle caravan that was staged eight times starting in 1963, over the abandoned Kettle Valley Railway grade, in order draw attention to the potential of this route. NO highway should be demonized because of the idiots who dont know what they are doing. Coquihalla Summit N Hwy 5, about 7 km north of Zopkios Brake Check, looking north. Coquihalla Summit to Othello Road Pipeline Construction July 2021 - September 2023. Ten earth structures (stopping dams and mounds) which you probably wouldnt notice because they are now covered with vegetation. A series of protected areas were established along the route in 1986. Discover our featured content. dangerousroads.org is not responsible for the information contained in these pages. Hope that this information is helpful. The government website you provide states that the entire Coquihalla highway (i.e., Hope to Kamloops) is restricted. High 2C. We are looking into this for you. [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. Britton Creek N Hwy 5, by Britton Creek Rest Area northbound turnoff, looking north. Coquihalla, BC 10-Day Weather Forecast - The Weather Channel Youve got to be a survivalist, he says. 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. Thanks for your comment anonymous. ), 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). 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. 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. Sadly, she was struck and killed by another motorist. Hello Anne and thank you for your message. Coquihalla, BC 10-Day Weather Forecast - The Weather Channel | Weather.com 10 Day Weather - Coquihalla, BC As of 04:40 PST Winter Storm Warning Today -5/ -12 90% Sun. Coquihalla Summit - Wikipedia They dont look quite as dapper after chilling roadside a few hours. 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. 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. Highway 97Cbegins near Trepanier, at a location on Highway 97 known as Drought Hill. '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. 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. Variable clouds with snow showers. In its whole length there is only one traffic signal, which is in the town of Valemount. It's 7 kms from Hope (the Shakespearean name is reminiscent of the Kettle Valley Railway which used such names). High -1C. | next update Sat Mar 4 at 1:00 PM PST. Chance of snow 60%. Compact snow. Chance of snow 60%. The Coquihalla was closed north of Hope on Sunday due to the July Creek wildfire, which jumped the highway and merged with the Brook Creek blaze on the other side. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Coquihalla Conditions Hwy 5 & Hwy 97C - British Columbia Highway News High 1C. Watch for slippery sections between Junction Hwy 97 and Pennask Summit for 33.0 km (West Kelowna to Pennask Summit). Earlier, a witness shared photos of another section that appeared to be washed away near the Othello Tunnels. Drivers could avoid becoming stranded and helpless if they were more conscientious about filling their gas tanks at each opportunity and carrying cable chains. Pothole Lake East Highway 97C Weather Cameras (Okanagan Connector), near Pothole Lake about 7 km east of Aspen Grove, looking east. We want your experiences too! There are remnants of a few structures which might be visible along this stretch: Avalanche bunkers where avalanche techs might have set up and used older military style explosives to trigger avalanches in the area; avalanche benches which are installed to stop the flow of snow onto the highway; or there is also the remnants of an old telecommunications gondola, which carried service workers up to the peak of Dog Mountain back in the day. North of the Highway 8 junction, Highway 97C goes north for 42 km (26 mi) to Logan Lake, then northwest for 57 km (35 mi) to Ashcroft on the Canadian National Railway. On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, the Coquihalla Highway was reopened to non- essential traffic from Hope to Merritt. Some decrease in clouds late. There were 32 fatal crashes between 2004 and 2013 (according to ICBC). While many other service providers come and go, Davis remains. There isnt actually a single number to answer the question, because freezing levels very so much in the mountains around the Coquihalla. The road, (colloquially "the Coq"), climbs up the Coquihalla Pass, a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.249m (4,097ft) above the sea level and tops out by Surrey Lake Summit, at 1.444m (4,738ft) asl. Now they just drop bombs from the helicopters in the exact location of the avalanche hazard. I know you said 235cm snowpack but I doesnt specify how much snow actually falls annually. Until Sun Mar 5 at 3:00 AM PST. 1 Year Jamie Davis behind the wheel of one of his heavy rescue tow trucks. 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? Southbound travelers please use Britton creek rest Area exit 228. Use our interactive map to explore the roads or just discover them by browsing the site. [citation needed] As a result of the washout events, the Canadian Forces Cormorant helicopters completed rescue evacuations of stranded motorists on the highway. Winter tires or chains are required on most routes in British Columbia from October 1 to April 30. If you have specific routes which you are interested in, you may want to identify those as well. Davis has seen them: the oblivious fools who wear shorts and sandals to drive the Coq in the winter in their low-slung performance machines shod in useless all-season tires. [7][8] To ensure the project was completed on time, more than 10,000 people were needed to fill all of the jobs and more than 1,000 pieces of heavy equipment worked non-stop every day during the summer of 1985 to get it done. Helmer Lake Highway 5, 24 km north of Merritt at Helmer Interchange, looking to the north. Signup for our newsletter to get notified about our next ride. Reinstate the toll to pay for highway maintenance; any $$ not used on the Coq. It may be an avalanche that closes the road or a multi-vehicle pileup, or simply waist-deep snow that paralyzes everything on wheels. Rule of thumb conversion from water equivalent to snowfall is about 10:1, so that would have been approximately 1150 cm of snow, but we were talking precipitation, not snow depth. [12] In response to strong opposition from the public, and numerous businesses, in the Interior of British Columbia, the provincial government shelved the move three months later. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Occasional snow showers. The Trans-Canada Highway is your best bet for longest continuous stretch of road across Canada. Highway Thru Hell | Episode 4 Wreck Analysis - VidoEmo Pennask Summit Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 74 km west of Kelowna, looking east. Plus the elevation means that it's frequently covered with snow and ice. Kw'ikw'iya:la (Coquihalla) in the Halq'emeylem language of the St:l, is a place name meaning "stingy container." Coquihalla Highway - The Smasher - YouTube Winds light and variable. Bottom line: be certain you can spend five hours or possibly a day or two by yourself in a snowstorm. The Coquihalla highway. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Chance of snow 50%. High avalanche hazard between the start of Highway 5 and Exit 286: Merritt - 97C for 109.3 km (Hope to Merritt). There isnt a Timmies on every corner., When it comes to winter tires, four is always the safest way to go. The Smasher. Coquihalla Road Reports | Facebook The Coquihalla Highway - Phase 1, Hope to Merritt - was completed in time for Expo 86 in 1986. The Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area is located at the top of the pass on the Coquihalla Highway, approximately 45km (28mi) north of Hope. The Smasher. Coquihalla Road Reports | REMINDER - #BCHwy5 CLOSED in Too much horsepower with too little brains. minor road condition | last updated Sat Mar 4 at 6:45 AM PST. It is typically open all year round, with the occasional closure in winters due to dangerous weather conditions. Chance of snow 30%. [6], In the 1960s, the Merritt Board of Trade began lobbying the B.C. Coquihalla Highway is one of the worst roads in winters Coquihalla Highway is an extreme freeway located in British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province. Horrific in the winter! Thanks for your questions. The key phrase being: know before you go. Why the change? Coquihalla Highway is one of the worst roads in winters We hope that this information is helpful. Over the course of November 14 and 15, some 200 millimetres (7.9in) of rain fell along the route of the Coquihalla. Think again. to have this designation. 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. Winds SW at 10 to 15 km/h. Also I read that Surrey Lake Summit was formerly known as Clapperton Creek Summit. 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. 10 day. Wow, is David Poile ever rolling out the red carpet for his GM successor Barry Trotz. I think that publishing the annual VKT would be more meaningful to the general public. On December 20, 2021, the Coquihalla Highway was reopened to essential traffic, with non- essential traffic being diverted towards Highway 99. 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 . And what is the % gradient? 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. A diamond interchange at Exit 336 provides an important turn off to Logan Lake on Highway 97D and Lac le Jeune. Coquihalla conditions today The ascent to the Coquihalla Summit is very steep, especially from the south. CDL Grad, No Experience Watch for slippery sections between Loon Lake Rd and Merritt for 24.2 km (Merritt). Privacy | It is the highest point on the highway between the cities of Hope and Merritt. In summer, because of the steady uphill grade of the highway, motorists must monitor their vehicles for overheating. 26 | Day -5 90% SW 30. Hes the constant that can be relied upon when self-reliance runs out. Walloper Hwy 5, about 30 km south of Kamloops, looking to the south. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. [18] In June 2016, the province implemented a variable speed limit corridor around the Coquhalla Summit Park to increase safety during adverse conditions.[19]. In addition to getting a 2023 first-round pick and solid prospect in Reid Schaefer in the Mattias Ekholm trade . This group is for the idiots that drive the Coquihalla Highway that think they are experts drivers. Unless my logic is incorrect, something is wrong here. Snow showers. Hope that this helps. Chance of snow 60%. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. [7] In order to offset the cost of fast-tracking construction, Phase 1 was made a toll highway, with a toll plaza constructed at the summit of Coquihalla Pass; was designed to accommodate 13 toll booths for 14 lanes of traffic. Chance of snow 60%. Coquihalla Highway and sections of Hwy 1 closed due to major - CBC 1,150mm is a measly 1 meter and 15 cm . There is also one concrete stopping wall and one snow shed, Since the winter of 1990/1991, in regards to avalanche closures, Less than one closure per year due to avalanche hazard, specifically .96 per year over 25 years, 13 out of the last 25 years had no closures due to avalanche hazard, Of all the 24 avalanche closures, 11 were under 2 hours, The top 3 reasons for closures on the Coquihalla (in order of time spent) are, Vehicle incidents (such as stalls, vehicle fires, trucks spinning out, etc. The Coquihalla conditions has three more interchanges and one mountain pass, the Clapperton Creek Summit, in its remaining 72 km (45 mi) between Merritt and its end at a junction with Highways 1 and 97 within the Afton area of Kamloops. Careful preparation for your trip will ensure that if, and when, things do go wrong, you are prepared for the situation. Single lane alternating traffic will be in effect. Touring the world with friends one mile and pub at a time; southlake carroll basketball. Powerful engines, harsh weather, and steep drop-offs are only a few of the elements that have defined Highway Thru Hell. High 3C. Winds SE at 10 to 15 km/h. 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. It should be cm, not mm. 61km (38mi) and five interchanges north of the former toll plaza. Avalanche control works planned Saturday morning followed by any required cleanup works. Check Coquihalla conditions. Chance of snow 60%. [3], Following nine days of snowfall in February 2014, a Class 4 avalanche occurred across the Coquihalla Highway, 33 kilometres (21mi) north of Hope on February 20, 2014. Signs along the Coquihalla Highway frequently warn drivers to be aware of sudden changes in weather. It soon passes through the community of Valemount where a traffic signal is located. We have enabled email notificationsyou will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. 2-3cm of snow expected. 5+ Years, Please select ALL of your current, valid drivers licenses. You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. The pass is named after the Coquihalla River, from which the highway also derives its name. Winds light and variable. Its not like bombing around in Vancouver or Toronto, says Davis. The heartache in Daviss voice was palpable as he described the accident scene. Highway 5, southbound. Hello John, Low around -10C. The ascent to the Coquihalla Summit is very steep, especially from the south. Coquihalla Highway is the largest of 4 routes connecting the Vancouver area with interior centres. Brace yourself winter is here. Until Sat Mar 4. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 km/h. 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. That's a LOT of white stuff coming down. Youre fatigued and the driving is its most treacherous. 1-5 Months They chose to confront the Coq without a full tank, not realizing that idling a car for warmth hour after hour depletes an already dangerously low fuel tank. It also provides highway travellers opportunities for viewing granite peaks, wildlife and historic features such as the Kettle Valley Railway and old Coquihalla Highway, both of which were earlier routes through the area.[5][3]. Low around -10C. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. We reached out to our weather and avalanche group for clarification and they let us know that the issue is the difference between measurement of precipitation and snowfall. Sometime in March? Becoming partly cloudy later. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. We recommend that you check DriveBC before you travel, specifically the webcams, to get an idea of snow levels along the route. OTHELLO TUNNELS (Hope) - 2023 What to Know BEFORE You Go - Tripadvisor Coquihalla Box Canyon South Hwy 5, near Box Canyon Chain-up Area, looking south. Winds light and variable. Considerable clouds early. 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