19962023 bchighway.com - All Rights Reserved. Wow, is David Poile ever rolling out the red carpet for his GM successor Barry Trotz. Thanks for your comment. Chance of snow 60%. 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. Low -6C. Low around -5C. But being its a high mountain road, you have to be prepared and drive to the conditions. Winds E at 10 to 15 km/h. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 km/h. Long steep grades will have large units using brakes and pulling hard going up hill. For the last 10 years, Davis and his company, Jamie Davis Towing, have been performing heavy recovery and rescue services along the Coq, as its affectionately called by locals. High avalanche hazard between the start of Highway 5 and Exit 286: Merritt - 97C for 109.3 km (Hope to Merritt). Go prepared, or go home. The website is for information purposes only and we assume no liability for decisions made as a result of the information provided here. It's a 12-mile hill for those of you watching from the United States and might end up in British Columbia going down one of the more notorious hills, made famous by the TV series, "Highway thru Hell." So we're going to do today, we're going to give you a bit of information on the descent down the hill from the Coquihalla summit. Without knowing exactly the location you are referring to exactly, we would guess that is what youve seen. And what is the % gradient? Integrating BC Transportation Travel News Services and Products. 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. 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. Theres no help around the corner, so you must rely upon your own smarts to survive. Walloper Hwy 5, about 30 km south of Kamloops, looking to the south. Winds S at 10 to 15 km/h. Shortly after the junction it descends into the city of Kamloops where it meets Highways1 and 97 at a trumpet interchange. Thanks for your message. After leaving the concurrency it immediately crosses the South Thompson River and enters a First Nations Reserve, temporarily leaving Kamloops city limits. Videos showing interesting road situations. 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 infamous Highway 5, also named the Coquihalla. In addition to getting a 2023 first-round pick and solid prospect in Reid Schaefer in the Mattias Ekholm trade . [6], In the 1960s, the Merritt Board of Trade began lobbying the B.C. Low -4C. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The Coquihalla Valley has long been a major transportation route from the coast to the interior. (I found the info on Wikipedia, but no explanation). This is one of the most amazing stretches of roads in North America. Modern use of the pass began in 1986 after construction of the first phase of the Coquihalla Highway (from Hope to Merritt). A few snow showers developing later in the day. social media users statistics 2019 [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. The Coquihalla Snowshed Protocol: 10 Steps to Highway Safety. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Tough on what seemed like all cars except mine. Job Listing Rules. I have not been able to find information on Surrey Lake Summit on the website. Signs along the Coquihalla Highway frequently warn drivers to be aware of sudden changes in weather. Southern Yellowhead Highway 5, southbound. 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. Unfortunately, we dont have this information. The Coquihalla Highway, which appears to have snapped in two, is one of B.C.'s most important highways since it connects the city of Vancouver to the province Interior. High 1C. We used to use the guns for avalanche control in the area, but the ministry now use helicopters to detonate explosives and trigger controlled avalanches. I give my express consent authorizing TruckersReport and its. REMINDER - #BCHwy5 CLOSED in both directions between #HopeBC and #Merritt due to heavy congestion and extreme winter weather. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. The highway has since been fully reopened, allowing full traffic from Hope to Kamloops. [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. 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. Chance of snow 30%. Thank you! Mostly cloudy skies early. Highway 97Cbegins near Trepanier, at a location on Highway 97 known as Drought Hill. Coquihalla Summit S Hwy 5, about 7 km north of Zopkios Brake Check, looking the south. 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. Southbound travelers please use Britton creek rest Area exit 228. Snow level 1200 metres. You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. If youre mired in the white stuff, so are rescue services, including ambulances, tow trucks and taxi cabs. 1,150mm is a measly 1 meter and 15 cm . 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. Variable clouds with snow showers. Brenda Mine East Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 22 km west of 97/97C Junction, looking east. Think AWD makes you invincible in the show? Canadian Covid -19 Emergency border measures have ended. 1,244m (4,081ft) Coquihalla Pass. Low -9C. Established in 1986 and clocking in at a respectable 159 hectares, Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park is a truly magical place. How confusing! Snow showers. Now they just drop bombs from the helicopters in the exact location of the avalanche hazard. 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Tomorrow. Coquihalla Summit - Hwy 5, about 7 km north of Zopkios Brake Check, looking south. which shows MVKM (Million Vehicle Kilometres) for many highway segments. 7 day. Considerable clouds early. People often leave after work not realizing that as the sun goes down the temperature drops, and the storm starts. Pennask Summit Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 74 km west of Kelowna, looking east. 6-11 Months The ascent is particularly steep after passing . Part of the Highway 5, the road is193 km (119 miles) long, running north-south from Kamloops to Hope via Merritt. Low -8C. Work will commence in a series of phased activities along the pipeline right-of-way. When can you count on there being no more snow on the Coq? 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. If Hell was cold I'd agree with them. So when we said 1150 mm falls as snow, then thats the water equivalent of the snow. Winds light and variable. Hello Randall thanks for connecting with us here. [28] The Coquihalla highway. REDUCED SPEEDS IN EFFECT. Share YOUR roads!We'vemorethan 13.000 roads but we want more! [25][26] The heavy amount of rain eventually caused several large washouts at multiple points along the highway, including the destruction of multiple bridges. Snow can fall on high mountain passes in BC, such as the Coquihalla, well into the spring and occasionally into the summer. Make sure your vehicle is in good shape with summer coolant and good brakes and tires. Why the change? Utility work planned between Thunder Creek Bridge and Blue River Bridge for 13.5 km (Blue River). The Canadian docuseries, which premiered in 2012, follows the daily operations of tow truckers working in British Columbia. There is an installation of concrete blocks along the highway placed there to block avalanche flow. So how does one ensure survival in such an epic struggle? Many of the catastrophic mistakes he bears witness to involve typical cars and SUVs rather than big rigs. The highway, varying between four and six lanes, is pretty good, some sections have frost heaves and uneven pavement but it's 2 lanes each way so slower traffic like trucks are not an issue. minor construction | last updated Thu Mar 2 at 4:51 PM PST. Low -4C. In May 2022, I drove the Coquihalla to/from my way to Edmonton for the first time. where is the smasher on the coquihalla. [8], In 2003, Premier Gordon Campbell announced the Liberal government would turn over toll revenue to a private operator, along with responsibility for operation, and maintenance of "the Coq". High 3C. 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. [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. 2 Years I do not see a lot of information about bicycles on the highway. Aspen Grove South Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), at Hwy 5A Junction, near Aspen Grove, looking south. Starting Wed Mar 8 at 9:00 AM PST until Fri Mar 10 at 5:00 PM PST. 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]. Road construction work between Exit 231: Mine Creek Rd and Exit 250: Larson Hill for 18.6 km (31 to 12 km north of Coquihalla Summit). 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. Wildfire Service said. High near 0C. They dont look quite as dapper after chilling roadside a few hours. Safe travels! [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. (Submitted by Jeremiah Steberl) B.C.'s Coquihalla Highway could be . In CDL School Now Snow accumulations less than 2cm. High around 0C. Lane closures and short duration traffic stoppages will be in effect periodically. Winds light and variable. Please feel free to delete my original post if you wish. Winds SE at 10 to 15 km/h. Hope that this information is helpful. Do you know any spectacular road?Click here to send us all the info, and we'll publish it! Traffic volume on this section of highway is low compared to the Coquihalla and Kamloops sections of Highway 5. Zopkios Southbound N Hwy 5, northbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit looking to the south. Brenda Mine West Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 22 km west of 97/97C Junction, looking west. [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. Number of closures for the last 10 years would be sufficient. 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. In British Columbia, motorists will find such information at www.shiftintowinter.ca. According to St:l oral history, the skw'exweq (water babies, 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."[2]. Variably cloudy with snow showers. Coquihalla Highway is the largest of 4 routes connecting the Vancouver area with interior centres. This section is mostly an urban freeway with a speed limit of 100km/h (62mph) it passes through 5 interchanges connecting to the core area of Kamloops before the concurrency splits and Highway 5 exits off the road to the north in a complex 5 way interchange. It requires skill to drive. At high elevations it can sometimes get to be -30 deg. 4 Years We apologize, but this video has failed to load. 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. High -1C. 26 | Day -5 90% SW 30. 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. Also if the steepest part of the Coquihalla between Hope to Merritt is the Smasher, is there an equivalent between Merritt and Kamloops? The current Highway 5 is not the first highway in B.C. Safe travels. The toll booth once marked the halfway point of the formerly tolled Hope-to-Merritt portion of the highway. Trucks have been known to avoid the route, but most motorists don't have any hesitation about driving the route in spring-summer-fall conditions. Services for drivers are provided in the major towns. If you have specific routes which you are interested in, you may want to identify those as well. 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. At this time, we are not considering making the Coquihalla a tolled route. To quote Highway from Hell's Jamie Davis, I cant criticize the Coquihalla. The ascent is particularly steep after passing northbound through the Great Bear snow shed. Snow showers. The round concrete blocks your referring too are at the widened breaks in the highway barriers where the Military used to pull off and set up and shoot up into the snow packed mountains for avalanche control. Low -4C. Tucked away in southern British Columbia, make sure you get your vehicle and yourself well-prepared before driving this road. Thanks for your comment anonymous. Jamie Davis behind the wheel of one of his heavy rescue tow trucks. The latest music videos, short movies, tv shows, funny and extreme videos. Coquihalla Box Canyon North Hwy 5, near Box Canyon Chain-up Area, looking north. 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/ We have the information but it is in a graph format and this platform wont support graphics in the comments. This stretch of road, which carries 97 South and 5 North on the same lanes (and vice versa), is the only other wrong-way concurrency in British Columbia, along with 99 North and 12 South, near the town of Lillooet. It is the highest point on the highway between the cities of Hope and Merritt. The ascent to the Coquihalla Summit is very steep, especially from the south. ), 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).