Vancouver –
BC’s Department of Transport and Infrastructure said the closure of highways between the Lower Continent and Inland due to the ongoing storm would begin at 2pm on Saturday.
The department announced Friday that it plans to close sections of Highways 1, 3, and 99 as the risk of flooding and landslides on these already damaged routes increases as another atmospheric river rises. break through the province. The original announcement did not specify closing times.
On Saturday, the Department confirmed that Highway 1 would be closed in Fraser Canyon and between Popkum and Hope at 2 p.m.
Highway 3 will close between Hope and Princeton at the same time.
Highway 99 will close between Pemberton and Lillooet at 4 p.m., the department said Saturday.
“Closing times will depend on the weather,” the ministry said in a statement. “The closures of these three motorways will be reassessed on Sunday morning, with motorways to be reopened when it is safe.”
Three roads closed on Saturday were restricted to essential travel only during the province’s state of emergency. All three suffered significant damage in the devastating storm that hit the province earlier this month, and have been reopened with temporary repairs in place.
In its statement, the ministry described the three highways as “extremely vulnerable” to heavy rain.
The storm that made landfall in the province on Saturday is the second in a chain of three rivers whose atmosphere is expected to bring heavy rain and warm air to BC.
On Friday, Environment Canada issued an unprecedented “red alert” for areas of the province still recovering from the previous storm, saying already reeling communities could be particularly vulnerable. vulnerable to the effects of rain, snowmelt, river surges and landslides.
This is a developing story and will be updated
