Photo: Emcon Services Inc.

UPDATE: 11:00 p.m.

DriveBC reports Highway 3 has reopened following avalanche debris clearing. 

UPDATE: 10:20 p.m.

DriveBC indicates the stretch of Highway 3 which has been closed for several hours will open at 10:30 p.m.

ORIGINAL: 7:20 p.m.

A 27-kilometre stretch of Highway 3 is closed west of Creston. 

Crews are working to remove avalanche deposits. 

According to DriveBC, the estimated time of re-opening is 9 p.m. Sunday evening. 

An alternate route is available from Nelson to Creston on Highway 3A and the Kootenay Lake Ferry, which DriveBC estimates would take around 2.5 hours. 

Another update is expected at 9 p.m.