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Crowsnest Highway sustains 'extensive damage' with no opening date as other Interior highways slowly reopen

Serious damage on Hwy 3

Castanet - Dec 11, 2025 / 8:23 pm | Story: 588839

UPDATE: 8:20 p.m.

There is no estimated timeline for Highway 3 to reopen between Hope and Manning Park, due to newly-assessed major damage.

The BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has shared on social media that there is "extensive damage" on that part of the highway due to fallout from the atmospheric river that hit the region this week.

In a social media post Thursday evening, they shared that there are "approximately 23 damaged sites" which include "rockfall, roadway debris, shoulder undermining, exposed or blocked culverts and areas of ponding water."

They note one area that is "severely undermined" which has a culvert fully exposed. It will be the priority site for repair.

"Engineering teams are preparing drawings and recommendations and contractors will mobilize tonight to begin work," reads the post.

They also stated there is "no estimated time of reopening at this stage," as the aforementioned priority site will take "the longest to repair" and single-lane alternating traffic is not safe.

UPDATE: 7:59 p.m.

Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton will remain closed overnight, Drive BC is reporting.

In an update, Drive BC says the highway remains closed in both directions. Debris is on the roadway and there’s no estimated time of opening.

An engineering assessment is underway and ongoing.

Another update is expected at 7 a.m. Friday morning.

UPDATE 3:50 p.m.

The Coquihalla Highway has reopened in both directions.

DriveBC reports the highway between Hope and Merritt was reopened at 3:45 p.m.

Highway 3 remains closed between Hope and Princeton.

Highway 1 is also closed to eastbound traffic at Bridal Falls.

UPDATE 2:40 p.m.

It is expected that the Coquihalla and Hope-to-Princeton highways will remain closed until this evening as crews clean up after the atmospheric river.

DriveBC reports that both corridors remain closed with the next update not due until 7 p.m.

Highway 1 also remains closed to eastbound traffic at Bridal Falls due to a mudslide.

Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon and Highway 99 north of Pemberton are open, providing the only two links between the Lower Mainland and B.C. Interior.

UPDATE 11:30 a.m.

B.C.’s highway network has avoided major damage as a result of the atmospheric river that dumped heavy rainfall on Southern B.C. Wednesday night.

Janelle Staite, Ministry of Transportation deputy director, says assessments have been completed on most highways linking the Lower Mainland to the B.C. Interior.

“I'm happy to report that while there are road impacts, we are not near the state of infrastructure damage that we experienced during the 2021 event,” she said.

The Coquihalla Highway, which remains closed between Hope and Merritt, has two locations that will require cleanup before opening, but there are “no other signs of significant road or bridge damage.”

An update will be provided later today on a reopening time.

Highway 3 is still closed between Hope and Princeton. Crews were only able to complete a partial aerial assessment of the corridor due to bad weather.

“The portions of the road that were assessed showed minor impacts and repairs are underway as we await further updates from the remainder of the corridor when weather permits later today,” Staite said.

The Trans Canada is closed to eastbound traffic in the Bridal Falls area due to a mudslide.

Staite said engineers have observed water continuing to flow from the mountain over the slide so it is not yet safe to start clearing debris. An update on opening that stretch of road will also be made available later today.

A patrol of Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon found no damage or ongoing risk, which led to the opening of the road earlier today.

Crews are in the process of clearing a rockfall on Highway 7 between Agassiz and Hope, which remains open to single-lane alternating traffic.

Finally, Highway 99 between Mount Currie and Lillooet was patrolled and reopened this morning.

“However, drivers on this road should continue to expect and prepare for winter conditions,” said Staite.

UPDATE 8:10 a.m.

Highway connections between the B.C. Interior and Lower Mainland have been restored, although both the Coquihalla and Hope-to-Princeton Highways remain closed.

"The Ministry of Transportation and Transit has closed major highways between the Lower Mainland and the Interior due to flooding, falling rock and debris, and high avalanche hazards," reads the advisory from the ministry.

"This situation is evolving and very dynamic. Please pay attention to any emergency messaging and traffic controls."

Drivers are cautioned that other provincial roadways could be closed with little or no notice.

Environment Canada says the rains peaked in the Fraser valley, where 140 millimetres were recorded in Hope and 110 millimetres in Chilliwack.

In the Southern Interior the Coquihalla Summit had 101 mm of rain, Allison Pass had 85 mm, Hells Gate had 52 mm, Nakusp had 55 mm and Coffee Creek had 51 mm Morrissey and 93 mm.

Here are the latest updates from the Ministry of Transport:

  • Highway 1 (Fraser Canyon) - REOPENED - Yale to Lytton
  • Highway 5 (Coquihalla) - CLOSED both directions between Hope and Merrit due to flooding at Sowaqua.
  • Highway 7 partly reopened to Single Lane Alternating Traffic following a rockslide
  • Highway 9 to Ross Rd for 27.8 km single lane alternating only, expect delays.
  • Highway 1 - Highway 9 to Hope - Closed Eastbound
  • Sumas border closed to commercial traffic, local traffic only
  • Highway 3 (Hope-to-Princeton) - CLOSED - Debris on highway
  • Highway 8 - CLOSED - local traffic only
  • Highway 99 - REOPENED - Mount Currie to Lilooett - planned avalanche closure later this morning

UPDATE 7:46 a.m.

Major highways between the Lower Mainland and the Interior remain closed Thursday morning due to flooding, falling rock and debris, and high avalanche hazards.

The Ministry of Transportation and Transit announced the closures late Wednesday, and said there is no timeline for reopening.

"Ministry staff and maintenance contractors continue to patrol highways to identify areas of concern. Contractors are on standby to clear debris and reopen highways as soon as it is safe to do so," the ministry said in a statement.

Road closures include:

  • Highway 1 eastbound closed at Highway 9
  • Highway 1 closed between Hope and Lytton
  • Highway 3 closed between Hope and Princeton
  • Highway 5 closed between Hope and Merritt

Check back for more updates.

UPDATE 9:15 p.m.

Highway links between the Lower Mainland and the B.C. Interior have been cut off as a series of atmospheric river weather systems drench the province.

Highways 1, 3, 5 and 99 are all now closed, or are in the process of being closed, announced the province Wednesday night.

The Coquihalla (Hwy 5) is closed between Hope and Merritt due to flooding at Sowaqua Creek.

The Hope-to-Princeton (Hwy 3) is closed due to debris on the roadway.

Janelle Staite, Ministry of Transportation deputy director, says water is crossing Highway 3 near Allison Pass due to a blocked culvert.

“With it being nighttime conditions we were unable to assess the slope to determine sort of the degree of the risk, we'll be up there at first light to do that assessment,” she said.

The Fraser Canyon (Hwy 1) between Yale and Lytton is closed due to “adverse weather” and high avalanche risk.

Highway 99 between Pemberton and Mount Currie is in the process of being proactively closed for safety reasons, Staite said.

Staite said there will be no access between the Lower Mainland and the BC Interior until “at least” Thursday. There is no timeline for reopening any of the highways.

Additionally, Highway 1 eastbound is closed at Highway 9 in Bridal Falls, Highway 7 is closed west of Hope and Highway 11 at the Sumas border crossing is closed to commercial traffic.

Drivers are asked to stay off the roads in the Fraser Valley for the evening.

“We need people to stay off the roads for safety and to ensure roads are clear for people who need to evacuate,” said Kelly Greene, B.C. Emergency Management Minister.

Connie Chapman, executive director of water management, says that while rain in the Fraser Valley is easing, the Nooksack River across the U.S. border will continue to top its banks into early Thursday.

She says the volume of water coming out of the Nooksack is similar to the amount seen in 2021 when its outflows caused catastrophic flooding in the Fraser Valley, resulting in billions of dollars in damage.

ORIGINAL 8:30 p.m.

Flooding has closed the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt while "adverse weather" has closed Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon.

According to DriveBC, the Coquihalla has become flooded at Sowaqua Creek and is closed in both directions from about six kilometres north of Hope to seven kilometres north of Merritt.

DriveBC said an assessment is in progress and an update is expected around 9:30 p.m. tonight.

Meanwhile, Highway 1 between Yale and Lytton in the Fraser Canyon has been closed in both directions "due to adverse weather conditions," said DriveBC. There is no estimated time of opening.

The Ministry of Transportation and Transit has also issued a travel advisory for areas in the Fraser Valley due to a risk of flooding.

"People are asked to avoid travel unless necessary until the heavy rainfall passes and water levels subside," the advisory reads.

Eastbound traffic on Highway 1 is also closed between Hope and Bridal Falls, about two kilometres east of Chilliwack.

Highway 7 is closed west of Hope between Highway 9 and Ross Road due to rocks on the road. There is no timeline for reopening.

"There is no eastbound access from the Lower Mainland to Hope, B.C. at this time," said DriveBC on X.

An atmospheric river is currently dumping significant rainfall on Southern B.C., forcing evacuation alerts in the Fraser Valley.

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