Coquihalla Highway closed in both directions as sinkhole repairs continue

A sinkhole has stopped northbound traffic on the Coquihalla Highway ahead of a busy travel weekend.

The main highway between B.C.’s Lower Mainland and Interior regions remained closed Saturday, more than 36 hours after it first partially shut down for “emergency sinkhole repairs” Thursday night.

The closure was first reported by DriveBC at around 8:30 p.m. Thursday night at a location between the Portia and Zopkios Brake Check exits, about three kilometres south of the Great Bear Snowshed passageway.

In a statement, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit said the sinkhole “appears to be the result of pipeline boring in the area.”

At first, only the northbound lanes were closed to traffic, but the highway has been closed in both directions since 9 p.m. Friday.

DriveBC said Friday that crews were initially hoping to let northbound traffic through during the afternoon, but “unforeseen geotechnical circumstances” forced it to delay its next update on the closure to 5 p.m. that day.

The road remained closed in both directions between Hope and Merritt as of 8:30 a.m. Saturday, and DriveBC said its next update on the matter was scheduled for 4 p.m.

“Please note this is NOT an estimated time of reopening,” the agency said in a social media post.

The ministry’s statement indicates it expects the road to remain closed “throughout the day” Saturday. It said DriveBC will be updated as soon as a reopening time is confirmed.

“Ministry, maintenance contractor and Trans Mountain (pipeline) crews continue to work diligently to expedite repairs and open the highway as soon as safe to do so,” the ministry said.

With the Coquihalla Highway – also known as Highway 5 – closed, travellers between the Lower Mainland and the Interior are advised to take either Highway 1 or Highway 3 to get to their destinations.

The ministry said drivers “should expect delays with the additional volume on those routes” and plan accordingly.

With files from The Canadian Press