UPDATE 10:00 a.m.
The Coquihalla Highway is now open southbound between Merritt and Hope.
✅ OPEN - #BCHwy5 is now open southbound between #HopeBC and #Merrit. Continue to expect delays as the congestion clears. Drive to the winter conditions. #Coquihalla
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) December 23, 2022
Following the clean up, crews also scraped ice off of the highway. Major delays are expected due to traffic congestion.
Original
The Coquihalla Highway is closed southbound due to multiple vehicle crashes.
⛔REMINDER - #BCHwy5 The highway remains CLOSED southbound between #HopeBC and #MerrittBC due to multiple vehicle incidents. Assessment in progress. Alternate routes available via #BCHwy1 and #BCHwy3. #Coquihalla
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) December 23, 2022
ℹ️ For more info:https://t.co/3GkdM8rHbU pic.twitter.com/TujaDhqIqg
While an assessment is in progress, travellers who are heading southbound can use Highway 3 and Highway 1 as alternate routes. Northbound is still open.
The southbound lanes have been closed since 3:20 a.m. and DriveBC’s next update is set for 8 a.m.
The Coquihalla Highway currently has a winter storm warning in which travel conditions are challenged due to snowfall. It is expected to snow 15 centimetres on the highway today, turning into freezing rain later, closer to Hope. Winds are also 15 kilometres per hour. Poor visibility is also expected.
According to Environment Canada, the storm warning is for today (Dec. 23) and Saturday. Participation is expected in intensify and with the change in weather, the mix of snow and freezing rain turning into ice is expected to make travelling difficult over the next couple days.
Black Press Media will stay up to day on the highway’s status.
READ MORE: Prolific offender known around the Okanagan arrested in Kelowna
READ MORE: “There is help out there”: Kelowna burn victim identified as man with 22-year troubled past
@cunninghamjordy
jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.