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Officials continue to try and wrap their heads around the widespread damage from floods and landslides in British Columbia over the past 48 hours.
Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth confirmed that all motorists stranded on BC highways have been rescued and both search and rescue and RCMP crews are combing impacted areas to ensure no one has been left behind.
Now, the focus turns to cleaning up and reopening various highways around the southern half of the province, especially links between the Lower Mainland and Interior.
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming said Hwy 3 “looks to be the quickest route to reopen” in that regard, but that likely won’t happen for a few days.
“We will have updates to the public on those efforts as we have crews deployed and work is undertaken,” he said.
“Some of this will be confirmed, in terms of timelines, shortly. We will update people on what this route looks like and whether it can be reopened by the end of the weekend.”
#BCstorm on #BChwy3 between Bromley Rock Provincial Park and Taylor Mill.
— BC Transportation (@TranBC) November 15, 2021
Here are current @driveBC Highway 3 conditions, closures in red texthttps://t.co/PEaKIJf7Pe#PrincetonBC pic.twitter.com/9wtWhs99eZ
Fleming explained that people have been flying in helicopters along impacted highways and road networks today, as geotechnical engineers assess sites to ensure it’s safe for clean up and to eventually reopen.
“Other routes will clearly take longer, like the Coquihalla and Hwy 1 through the Fraser Canyon, based on the images that people have seen,” Fleming explained. “The infrastructure damage there is significant.”
Aerial assessments of the Coquihalla today showed that five structures have been compromised and there are multiple washouts.
Paula Cousins, the Interior representative for the Ministry of Transportation, confirmed what many have been speculating; that corridor will need significant repairs before traffic can move through it again.
The minister stressed that the number one priority is getting the province’s transportation network back up and in operation, and the government will provide whatever resources are necessary to make that happen.
“We are working with Transport Canada to reestablish supply chains for communities that currently are cut off,” said Fleming.
“This will begin with the essential movement of goods and supplies with coordination of Transport Canada.”
He added: “This is a challenging time and we will get through this. Our government will do everything it can to get transportation links open as soon as possible and get people and goods moving.”
While it will take days to relink the Lower Mainland and Interior, crews are working feverishly on an access road that will reconnect Hope with the Lower Mainland.
Hope is currently supporting around 1,100 stranded travellers and evacuees with meals and more, most of whom are sleeping at the local high school.
While work on the access road is ongoing, Emergency Management BC and the BC Wildfire Service are working together to airlift in food, water, blankets, cots and more.
Although many highways are closed, making travel difficult, Farnworth encouraged British Columbians to be flexible and avoid travelling while this dynamic situation unfolds in the coming days.
“What we are seeing is a natural disaster,” he said. “Now is not the time to travel or go to any areas affected by this emergency.”
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