Highway 3 to reopen by New Year's Day following flooding and washout

B.C.’s transportation ministry says Highway 3, which was damaged by a series of storms in recent weeks, could reopen to traffic by Jan. 1.

Heavy rains washed out a 50-metre section of the highway between Princeton and Hope on Dec. 16.

On Sunday, the government said an “interim alignment” at the washout site — about 42 kilometres east of the Highway 3 and 5 junction — would allow the crucial transportation corridor between the Lower Mainland and the B.C. Interior to reopen between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

“Contractors are working around the clock to restore the highway and the Ministry of Transportation and Transit is sourcing material and supplies as quickly as possible,” it said in a news release.

“If conditions continue to be favourable, the ministry could potentially open the highway earlier.”

While the government had earlier indicated it could take weeks to resume access on the highway, on Sunday it said the highway is on track to reopen earlier because engineers found less work is needed and utilities will not need to be relocated.

The ministry said crews have cleared the site and will reroute the road around the affected area to allow traffic to go through while repairs continue.

Drivers are advised to slow down as the temporary detour will have a speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour.

The detour will be in effect until permanent repairs are completed.

A series of atmospheric rivers starting Dec. 10 damaged around 30 separate locations along Highway 3.

While repairs to other sections hit by flooding and mudslides are expected to be completed by Monday, the highway will not fully reopen until the detour at the washed-out site is completed.

People travelling between the Lower Mainland and the B.C. Interior are advised to detour over the Coquihalla Highway.

Sunshine Valley is accessible from Hope, while Manning Park Resort can be accessed from Highway 3 through Princeton.

chchan@postmedia.com

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