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4mo ago

Coquihalla Highway to Reopen at 7:30 p.m. Tonight After Sinkhole Repairs

Crews overcame geotechnical setbacks to complete emergency repairs on the sinkhole south of the Great Bear Snowshed.

Sinkhole on the Coquihalla Highway south of the Great Bear Snowshed.
Vehicles drive along the Coquihalla Highway, January 19, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Drive B.C. says 'urgent sinkhole repairs' are needed forcing northbound lanes to close between Hope and Merritt.

Overview

  • Contractors discovered a sinkhole Thursday evening in the northbound slow lane during Trans Mountain pipeline boring work.
  • Northbound lanes closed Thursday night were expanded to both directions by Friday at 9 p.m. when assessments revealed broader pavement instability.
  • The southbound fast lane was shut Friday afternoon as a precaution while crews investigated potential damage across the highway.
  • Unforeseen geotechnical complications pushed back the hoped-for midday reopening to an estimated 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
  • Drivers were detoured onto Highways 1 and 3 with the Ministry of Transportation and DriveBC issuing traffic updates throughout the closure.