The Coquihalla is one of the most popular highway mountain passes in BC. Until Sun Mar 5 at 3:00 AM PST. They dont look quite as dapper after chilling roadside a few hours. High -1C. (Submitted by Jeremiah Steberl) B.C.'s Coquihalla Highway could be . '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. 2023 NHL trade-deadline winners and losers: Showtime on Broadway Snow accumulations less than 2cm. to have this designation. A single-vehicle crash has closed the left lane of southbound traffic on the Coquihalla Highway, at the Zopkios brake check, Saturday morning. It is very steep at both ends and although it is a modern highway, most truckers avoid traveling on it due to the extra gasoline expense that the steep inclines create. The original statistic should have read 3.3 million annual VKT/km, instead of 3.3 million annual VKT. Mostly cloudy. [11] Phase 2 between Merritt and Kamloops opened in September 1987, re-routing Highway 5, while Phase 3 was opened in October 1990 and designated as Highway 97C. Read more about cookies here. Highway Thru Hell | Episode 4 Wreck Analysis - VidoEmo From 6:00 PM to 3:00 AM PST on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Can you guys find out the answer to Brians question? 2.2m members in the Roadcam community. 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. Along with adequate provisions to maintain ones warmth and energy, there are the obvious car-related preparations, such as proper snow tires. The Coquihalla Valley has long been a major transportation route from the coast to the interior. 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. Also I read that Surrey Lake Summit was formerly known as Clapperton Creek Summit. 1,244m (4,081ft) Coquihalla Pass. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. C in cold winter weather. Coquihalla Summit - Weather Cams - British Columbia Highway News It refers to a fishing rock near the mouth of what is now known as the Coquihalla River. This information obtained from bchighway.com should not be used as a basis for making financial or other commitments. 5 min read. We encountered an issue signing you up. WIDE LOADS OVER 4.5 METERS USE BOTH SOUTHBOUND LANES AT BOTTLE TOP BRIDGE. Copyright 2023, Province of British Columbia. It was a little nerve wracking in my little Toyota Matrix but I am glad I did it. Daviss trucks never leave the yard without stopping in the nearby town of Hope to fill up on gas, and there are always food and survival provisions on-board. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. I do not see a lot of information about bicycles on the highway. Walloper Hwy 5, about 30 km south of Kamloops, looking to the south. The heartache in Daviss voice was palpable as he described the accident scene. Utility work planned between Thunder Creek Bridge and Blue River Bridge for 13.5 km (Blue River). Integrating BC Transportation Travel News Services and Products. Thanks for your comment anonymous. The area retains some remnants of the Kettle Valley Railway which travelled this route from early 1900s until 1961. Many lives have been lost or irreversibly altered on the Coq, and thats a difficult reality faced by Davis and his crew. Interstate 5 traffic camera - Coquihalla Hwy through Hell - I5CAM.com 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. Chance of snow 60%. Coquihalla Summit - Hwy 5, about 7 km north of Zopkios Brake Check, looking south. Winds NE at 10 to 15 km/h. But being its a high mountain road, you have to be prepared and drive to the conditions. Zopkios Southbound N Hwy 5, northbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit looking to the south. It was a toll road until 2008. The rules imposed by the United States Dec 2 2021 requiring a test 24hours before flying to the USA do not apply at the land border however You are still required to be fully vaccinated to drive to USA. 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. There were 32 fatal crashes between 2004 and 2013 (according to ICBC). Our BC HighwayCams also have a weather feature on each cam which will give you an idea of forecasted weather along the route. There are some portions of the Coquihalla where cycling is prohibited. After separating from Highways 1 and 97, Highway 5 proceeds north for approximately 19 km (12 mi), temporarily leaving Kamloops city limits as a four-lane highway, before re-entering the city at the Rayleigh community and continuing north. 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). Traffic pattern changed back to 2 lanes each direction. 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. 3 Years Othello Road Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park, Hope, British Columbia V0X 1L1 Canada Full view Best nearby Restaurants 30 within 5 kms Home Restaurant 670 2.7 km$$ - $$$ American Diner Canadian Starbucks 6 2.9 kmAmerican Spice & Grill 2 2.9 km See all Attractions 19 within 10 kms Kawkawa Lake 4 1.2 kmBodies of Water Nature & Wildlife Areas Alternate route via Hwy 1 and Hwy 3. 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Downtown Valemount as seen from the west side of Highway 5. You've probably driven it a few times, whether as a commuter or a BC traveller, or TONS of times as a commercial driver. Winds NE at 10 to 15 km/h. The Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area is located at the top of the pass on the Coquihalla Highway, approximately 45km (28mi) north of Hope. Chance of snow 50%. Coquihalla conditions today. Chance of snow 60%. Pennask Summit Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector). 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. Wildfire Service said. [23], Owing to its reputation, Highway 5 is featured predominantly in the reality docuseries Highway Thru Hell, which follows a group of towing companies that operate in the Interior and Highway 5.[24]. [7] The three phases have been credited with transforming Merritt into an important transportation hub between the coast and interior, as well as significant growth in both Kamloops and the Okanagan due to improved accessibility. Why We're Keeping Commercial Trucks out of the Left Lane on the Coquihalla Highway and sections of Hwy 1 closed due to major - CBC Despite recent challenges on the lower portion of the highway, the Coquihalla does indeed remain a marvel of engineering. can be used for maintenance on other BC highways. Winds light and variable. Low -8C. Variable clouds with snow showers. 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. Coquihalla Summit (el. Zopkios Southbound N Hwy 5, southbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit, looking northeast. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. It soon passes through the community of Valemount where a traffic signal is located. Traffic volumes thin out at that exit and shortly afterwards Highway 5 narrows to a 2 lane undivided road. Explosives, dropped from helicopters, and three days were needed to clear it. Variably cloudy with snow showers. Low around -10C. Edit your picks to remove vehicles if you want to add different ones. Its not like bombing around in Vancouver or Toronto, says Davis. Snowfall amount 4 cm near the summit. Chance of snow 50%. There isnt a Timmies on every corner., When it comes to winter tires, four is always the safest way to go. 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? Lane closures and short duration traffic stoppages will be in effect periodically. 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The Canadian docuseries, which premiered in 2012, follows the daily operations of tow truckers working in British Columbia. 's infamous 'Highway Thru Hell'. Number of closures for the last 10 years would be sufficient. VKT/km represents the annual VKT divided by the length of the roadway, and provides a good relative indicator of the average intensity of usage over the length of each highway. After leaving the concurrency it immediately crosses the South Thompson River and enters a First Nations Reserve, temporarily leaving Kamloops city limits. 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?. That's a LOT of white stuff coming down. Does an agency record statistics for the number of highway road closures per year? 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. 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. It's called British Columbia Highway 5 (Coquihalla Highway). 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. The road is named after Coquihalla River. Kw'ikw'iya:la (Coquihalla) in the Halq'emeylem language of the St:l, is a place name meaning "stingy container." The government website you provide states that the entire Coquihalla highway (i.e., Hope to Kamloops) is restricted. In spring, summer or fall, it's a breeze, but in winter there are at least 400-500 accidents and plenty of fatalities. NO highway should be demonized because of the idiots who dont know what they are doing. Its one of the worst roads in all of North America in winters. Coquihalla Summit S Hwy 5, about 7 km north of Zopkios Brake Check, looking the south. For most of this section it is a 4 lane divided highway with several signalized intersections and a speed limit of 80km/h (50mph). thecanadaweather.com Canada British Columbia Coquihalla. Coquihalla rescuer: Nothing is staged for 'Highway Thru Hell' In short, it all comes down to preparation, and this is what Davis really emphasized. A welcome email is on its way. It is the highest point on the highway between the cities of Hope and Merritt. 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 . Watch for slippery sections between Loon Lake Rd and Merritt for 24.2 km (Merritt). The small signs in the shape of old steam locomotives, The Coquihalla averages 1,350mm of precipitation of which 1,150mm falls as snow, The annual average peak snowpack (depth of snow on the ground) is 235cm at the summit, Average amount of winter abrasive used yearly: 40,000 m3, Average amount of anti-icing liquid used yearly: 3 million litres, During storm events, in addition to other equipment and snow plows VSA maintenance uses 3. You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. In order for you to receive the best possible offers, please make sure your answers above are accurate prior to submitting. Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport. Brace yourself winter is here. The exit numbers on the Coquihalla are a continuation of those on Highway 1 west of Hope. Over heating vehicles is a common occurrence. Compact snow.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. government says Highway 1 south of Hope should be reopened this. [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. Periods of rain except periods of snow near the summit. Starting Thu Mar 9 at 9:00 AM PST until Thu Mar 9 at 4:00 PM PST. The Trans-Canada Highway is your best bet for longest continuous stretch of road across Canada. Although it is scenic and modern built, it poses many travel hazards. Terms | [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. 4 Years If theres anyone qualified to deliver a life-saving rant to those tackling Canadas winter highways, its got to be Davis. 5 day. Collisions, close calls, and anything interesting. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Any information would be very helpful. What you see are likely the old avalanche howitzer guns and bases that are roadside within avalanche paths. Davis went onto emphasize the importance of staying put, and not stepping onto the highway without proper reflective gear and safety equipment. [20] While road maintenance strives to keep the roads as clear as possible, it is not unheard of for the highway to shut down, sometimes with travellers forced to stay overnight in their cars. Each company we work with has specific experience requirements for their drivers. Highway 5, southbound. Do you guys know the annual snowfall for Thar peak? High 3C. 26 | Day -5 90% SW 30. Chance of snow 40%. "The heavy rain will begin to transition to snow this afternoon as a cold front crosses the region and snow levels drop," the weather agency said. I would appreciate your clarification of this statistic. Mine Creek Hwy 5 southbound, at Mine Creek Rd, looking south. It is largely a two-lane undivided road, with some rare three- or four-lane sections for passing, although work has been constantly underway (especially in the Heffley CreekClearwater section) to create more passing opportunities. Why the change? Many of the catastrophic mistakes he bears witness to involve typical cars and SUVs rather than big rigs. The highway is particularly dangerous during winter seasons, with extreme snowfall that can exceed more than 10 centimetres (4in) per hour. Go prepared, or go home. 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. [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. GENERAL STATS Winds SE at 10 to 15 km/h. 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. Chance of snow 60%. where is the smasher on the coquihalla - foundationsduhok.com How Well Do You Know the Coquihalla? | TranBC Please feel free to delete my original post if you wish. High 2C. Safe travels. Winds light and variable. Davis is from a hauling family, learning the ropes at an early age from his parents before establishing his first towing firm with his brother in the 1980s. [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. Winds light and variable. Low around -10C. Check Coquihalla conditions. Part of the Highway 5, the road is193 km (119 miles) long, running north-south from Kamloops to Hope via Merritt. Privacy | Snow accumulations less than 2cm. So how does one ensure survival in such an epic struggle? Larson Hill S Hwy 5 at Larson Hill, 36 km south of Merritt, looking to the south. High near 0C. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Zopkios Northbound N Hwy 5, northbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit looking to the north. Zopkios Southbound S Hwy 5, southbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit, looking southwest. On Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, the Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5) will reopen to regular vehicle traffic between Hope and Merritt. Highway 97C travels on this freeway 82 km (51 mi) northwest to Aspen Grove, where it converges with Highway 5A. It becomes a two-lane highway at Heffley Creek and the exit to Sun Peaks resorts, both of which indicate the final northern boundary of Kamloops. Watch for slippery sections between Junction Hwy 97 and Pennask Summit for 33.0 km (West Kelowna to Pennask Summit). The closures of Highway 1 in the Fraser Valley along with the closure of other highways around the Lower Mainland,. government privatizing toll highway", "B.C. 10 day. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. 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/ 1,244m or 4,081ft) is a highway summit along the Coquihalla Highway in British Columbia, Canada. [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. 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. After exiting Merritt the highway climbs up a long steep hill towards another highpoint the Surrey Lake Summit It pass through three interchanges along this section. PDF Hwy 5 - Coquihalla Pass - Gov He sees it all the time, people milling around their cars at the side of the road exposing themselves to traffic unable to see them until its too late. Some of the old railroad grade is now part of the Trans-Canada Trail network, including the Othello Tunnels of the Coquihalla River section, which are accessible via exits from the Coquihalla Highway. Specific highway corridor? 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. Winds S at 10 to 15 km/h. Periods of rain except periods of snow near the summit. Southbound travelers please use Britton creek rest Area exit 228. I know you said 235cm snowpack but I doesnt specify how much snow actually falls annually. Hi there this information is availabel via the DataBC DriveBC catalogue here:https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/historical-drivebc-events Snow level 1200 metres lowering to 900 metres in the afternoon. Youve got to be a survivalist, he says. Low -7C. Variable clouds with snow showers. The ascent is particularly steep after passing northbound through the Great Bear snow shed. Its highest altitude is the Pennask Summit (1728 m, 5760 ft, above sea level). Sunshine and clouds mixed. I Need CDL Training He possesses astonishing insight into the world of transportation and heavy rescue. What are the concrete bunkers visible along the #5 highway between Hope and Merritt? On December 20, 2021, the Coquihalla Highway was reopened to essential traffic, with non- essential traffic being diverted towards Highway 99. We want your experiences too! On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, the Coquihalla Highway was reopened to non- essential traffic from Hope to Merritt. Go prepared, or go home. Aspen Grove South Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), at Hwy 5A Junction, near Aspen Grove, looking south. Is there a highwqy that runs the complete length of Canada? Snow showers. we might be able to provide more specific information). It is typically open all year round, with the occasional closure in winters due to dangerous weather conditions. A few snow showers developing later in the day. Watch for traffic control personnel. Brenda Mine East Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 22 km west of 97/97C Junction, looking east. 1. On the one hand, you have the Othello Tunnels, which is what the park is most known for; on the other hand, you have the park's epic geology, rushing water and beautiful flora. Major BC highway could reopen this weekend as new photos show huge 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. To quote Highway from Hell's Jamie Davis, I cant criticize the Coquihalla. The Smasher. Coquihalla Road Reports | Facebook | next update Sat Mar 4 at 1:00 PM PST. Heffley Creek indicates the northern boundary of Kamloops, the exit to Sun Peaks resort is at the same turn off. Vehicle crash on Coquihalla Highway cleared - BC News Helmer Lake Highway 5, 24 km north of Merritt at Helmer Interchange, looking to the north. Chance of snow 40%. In summer, because of the steady uphill grade of the highway, motorists must monitor their vehicles for overheating. 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. Careful preparation for your trip will ensure that if, and when, things do go wrong, you are prepared for the situation. I give my express consent authorizing TruckersReport and its. There are many tools engineered into the design of the Coquihalla Highway to reduce the likelihood of avalanches affecting the route, which is why the Coquihalla sees less frequent closures for avalanche hazard and avalanche control than many other mountain passes in the province. British Columbia Highway 5 - Wikipedia It is so-named because near Hope, it generally follows the Coquihalla River, for about 60 km (37 mi), and uses the Coquihalla Pass. premier", "New route changed the face of the province forever", "Construction of the Coquihalla: Still Amazing After 30 Years", "B.C.