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High avalanche danger closes Trans Canada

Highway 1 reopened

Chelsea Powrie

UPDATE: 7:30 p.m.

Highway 1 east of Golden is now letting traffic through. 

DriveBC reports that drivers should expect 20 minute delays as cleanup from avalanche work continues.


UPDATE: 5:45 p.m.

Crews are clearing up after avalanche maintenance on Highway 1 near Golden, B.C. Saturday. 

The mountains in Kicking Horse Canyon east of Golden saw "springlike conditions" with increased avalanche risk according to the Ministry of Transportation, which resulted in avalanche crews performing mitigation tactics. 

The highway is closed between Golden Donald Upper Rd and Ten Mile Hill Truck Stop Rd for 15.5 km while crews clear up the debris. 

An update is expected at 9 p.m. Saturday. 


UPDATE 11:45 a.m.

Highway 1 has been closed east of Golden due to high avalanche danger.

A section of the highway between Golden and 15 km east of Golden will be closed until at least this evening.

The estimated time of reopening is 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, a section of Highway near Chase remains closed until 1 p.m., as crews work to manage the avalanche danger in the area. 


Overnight travel proved difficult for those taking many of B.C.'s high-elevation passes.

After slippery conditions caused extensive backups on the Coquihalla overnight at the Great Bear Snowshed, the road has since cleared and traffic is flowing smoothly. Road conditions appear to have improved, and the temperature at the summit currently sits just below freezing. 

A crash closed the Trans-Canada Highway between Revelstoke and Golden just after 10 p.m. Friday night, but that road fully reopened by 2 a.m.

Meanwhile, two crashes near Lytton closed Highway 1 Saturday morning, but the road has since been reopened.

Snow and warming conditions have caused some increased avalanche dangers. Highway 1 through Chase will be closed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today for avalanche control work, while Highway 31, east of the Galena Bay ferry terminal, will be closed later this afternoon for the same reason.



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