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Highway 1 near Lytton reopened after mudslide cleared

Mudslide cleared, hwy open

UPDATE: 12:35 p.m.

Highway 1 between Lytton and Spences Bridge has been reopened following an overnight mudslide.

The mudslide occurred after heavy rains hit the area overnight. The province had pre-emptively closed the highway Friday afternoon after slopes in the area had been weakened by this summer's forest fires.

Photos from the Ministry of Transportation show excavators clearing the mudslide, which appears to have reached the Thompson River.

The Ministry has asked drivers in the area to drive with care.


ORIGINAL: 9 a.m.

Following a pre-emptive closure of the highway between Lytton and Spences Bridge Friday afternoon, due to the threat of a debris slide amid heavy rains, a mudslide did occur in the area.

Highway 1 remains closed Saturday morning after a mudslide hit the area during Friday evening's heavy rains. It's unclear where exactly the slide hit, or how significant the damage is, but DriveBC says a geotechnical investigation is underway.

The slopes in the area were weakened and left more susceptible to slides after wildfires ravaged the region this summer, all but destroying the village of Lytton in late June. Slides also occurred north of Lytton last month.

It's unclear how long the highway will remain closed, but DriveBC says it will provide an update by 2 p.m. Saturday.

Northbound traffic can detour around the closure using Highway 3 and 5, while southbound traffic can detour through Cache Creek.



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