In a welcome holiday development for British Columbia drivers, a critical stretch of Highway 3 severely damaged by heavy rainfall has reopened to traffic on Christmas Day, well ahead of the original repair schedule. The reopening comes just over a week after a section of the highway was washed away.
Holiday Reopening for Highway 3
The provincial government had initially warned that repairs to Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton could take weeks. The highway was forced to close on December 16 after intense rain eroded and washed away approximately 50 metres of the roadway. Last week, officials revised their estimate, suggesting access might be restored sometime between Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
However, through round-the-clock efforts by contractors and favourable material availability, crews managed to reopen the highway on December 25. Traffic is now moving on a temporary detour under single-lane alternating conditions. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure credited the non-stop work for the early completion.
Traffic Conditions and Warnings
Drivers using the reopened section must proceed with caution. The speed limit on the temporary detour is reduced to 30 km/h. For safety, westbound vehicles heading towards Hope are being held about 500 metres from the work zone to prevent lineups in an area with avalanche risk, where stopping is prohibited.
The ministry is specifically advising commercial vehicle operators to continue using alternate routes until two-way traffic can be fully restored on the highway, which is expected in the New Year. While Highway 3 is now an option, travellers between the Lower Mainland and the Interior can also use the Coquihalla Highway, though that route has experienced its own closures and delays recently due to heavy snowfall and collisions.
Milestone for Pattullo Bridge Replacement
In a separate but significant transportation update for the Lower Mainland, the massive $1.6 billion project to replace the aging Pattullo Bridge has reached a major milestone. The first northbound lane on the new stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge, also known as the Riverview Bridge, opened to traffic on Wednesday, December 24. This allows drivers travelling from New Westminster to Surrey to use the new structure.
The original Pattullo Bridge remains open for now, carrying four lanes of traffic as well as pedestrian and cyclist access. The full transition of traffic to the new bridge will occur in phases starting in January. This process will include a planned one-week closure of both the old and new bridges in mid-to-late January to facilitate the final switch.
Once the new bridge is fully operational, the decades-old Pattullo Bridge will be dismantled, a removal process anticipated to take roughly two years. The name "stal̕əw̓asəm" holds cultural significance, meaning "a space where you can view the river" in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language.
Looking Ahead for BC Travel
The early reopening of Highway 3 provides crucial relief for connectivity in the province's interior, especially during the busy holiday travel period. Both projects highlight ongoing efforts to maintain and modernize British Columbia's key transportation infrastructure. Drivers are encouraged to stay updated on conditions through official sources like the TranBC social media channels and plan for reduced speeds and potential delays in these areas.
