Holiday travel plans for thousands of British Columbians have been upended as provincial officials confirm a key highway will not reopen in time for the Christmas and New Year's period. The vital transportation corridor of Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton will remain closed, extending a disruption that has severed a major route through the province's interior.
Extended Closure Disrupts Key Travel Corridor
The British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has announced that Highway 3 will not be cleared for traffic before the busy holiday travel window. This decision, confirmed on December 21, 2025, follows ongoing work to address issues that have made the route unsafe. The closure impacts one of the most important east-west connections in the southern part of the province, a critical alternative route when other major highways like the Coquihalla are affected by weather.
Work has been ongoing, with the ministry releasing a photo on December 19, 2025, showing crews actively engaged in remediation efforts along the affected stretch. Despite this progress, the scale of the work required means the highway cannot be safely reopened to accommodate the surge in holiday traffic. The ministry has not provided a new estimated reopening date, stating only that work continues and safety is the paramount concern.
Impact on Holiday Travel and Alternative Routes
The timing of this extended closure could not be worse for residents and commercial traffic. The holiday season typically sees a significant increase in vehicles as people travel to visit family and friends. The closure of Highway 3 forces all traffic onto other routes, potentially increasing congestion and travel times on remaining open highways. Travelers are strongly advised to:
- Check DriveBC.ca for real-time road conditions and closures before departing.
- Consider adjusting travel plans, including dates or destinations, if possible.
- Prepare for longer journey times and ensure vehicles are equipped for winter driving conditions.
- Have an emergency kit in the vehicle with blankets, food, water, and a flashlight.
This disruption highlights the vulnerability of British Columbia's transportation network, particularly in winter, where multiple mountain passes can be affected by severe weather, avalanches, or geotechnical hazards. The Hope to Princeton section of Highway 3 is notoriously challenging, winding through steep and unstable terrain.
Broader Context of Transportation Challenges
The Highway 3 closure is one of several transportation stories unfolding across Canada as the holiday period begins. From snowy conditions causing multiple crashes in Ontario to a fundraising campaign for emergency services in Alberta that lost equipment in a fire, the nation's infrastructure is being tested by seasonal demands and incidents.
For British Columbians, the loss of this route is a significant inconvenience and a potential economic blow to communities along the corridor that rely on through traffic. The extended closure underscores the ongoing need for investment in resilient transportation infrastructure capable of withstanding the pressures of both climate and increased usage.
Officials urge the public to exercise patience and plan extensively. The ministry has committed to providing updates as the situation evolves and work on Highway 3 continues, with the goal of restoring this essential link as soon as it is safe to do so.
