Highway 3A reopened

Photo: Contributed

UPDATE: 2:20 p.m.

Highway 3A has partially reopened after being closed for more than four full days due to a mudslide.

The section of highway, 18.5 kilometres east of Keremeos, is open to single lane alternating traffic.

A heavy mudslide swamped the roadway and spilled into Yellow Lake at about 7 a.m. on Friday.

UPDATE 7:45 a.m.

DriveBC now says they plan to open a single lane on Highway 3A by 2 p.m. this afternoon. The road will be moving to single lane alternating traffic at the top of every hour to clear the traffic.

The highway has been closed since Friday morning, when a mudslide crashed down onto the road and into Yellow Lake.

Crews had to pause clearing efforts Monday afternoon due to heavy rain and the risk of further slides.

“In the meantime, our crews continue to haul supplies for the reconstruction of the road including rip rap, gravel and culverts,” the Ministry of Transportation said in a statement. “Staging these materials at the site will help to minimize further delays.”

Available detour at Keremeos junction use Highway 3 to Highway 97 and Kaleden junction use Highway 97 to Highway 3.

Next update at 2 p.m.

ORIGINAL 6:50 a.m.

Highway 3A between Keremeos and Highway 97 remains closed in both directions. The stretch of highway, 18.5 km east of Keremeos has been closed in both directions since a mudslide Friday morning.

Crews have been working to clear the area and fix the roadway.

But there is still no estimated time of opening, there is a detour at Keremeos junction use Highway 3 to Highway 97 and Kaleden junction use Highway 97 to Highway 3.