where is the smasher on the coquihalla

Occasional snow showers. Between Hope and Kamloops, Highway 5 is known as the Coquihalla Highway (colloquially "the Coq"; pronounced "coke"). Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings. The 52-year-old has built up such a reputation that truckers say when his green rig shows up, there is nothing to worry about anymore. On Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, the Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5) will reopen to regular vehicle traffic between Hope and Merritt. Drivers could avoid becoming stranded and helpless if they were more conscientious about filling their gas tanks at each opportunity and carrying cable chains. Southbound travelers please use Britton creek rest Area exit 228. Winds light and variable. It's called British Columbia Highway 5 (Coquihalla Highway). Chance of snow 60%. Title: Elevation and Grade Profile on Highway 5 - Coquihalla Pass Author: BC Ministry of Transporation Subject: [citation needed] As a result of the washout events, the Canadian Forces Cormorant helicopters completed rescue evacuations of stranded motorists on the highway. 30 km (19 mi) north of Little Fort, while continuing to follow the North Thompson and the CN Railway, Highway 5 reaches the community of Clearwater. Winds SE at 10 to 15 km/h. Thanks for your questions. Britton Creek S Hwy 5, by Britton Creek Rest Area northbound turnoff, looking south. Sadly, she was struck and killed by another motorist. So dangerous and dramatic is the highway, Discovery Channel chose it as the basis of their gripping and exceptionally popular reality series Highway Thru Hell, which features the rescue work and heavy towing services of Jamie Davis and his 40 or so dedicated employees. To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. If theres anyone qualified to deliver a life-saving rant to those tackling Canadas winter highways, its got to be Davis. Chance of snow 40%. In CDL School Now PDF Hwy 5 - Coquihalla Pass - Gov REDUCED SPEEDS IN EFFECT. The pass is named Kw'ikw'iya:la in the Halq'emeylem language used by the Stl, which means "stingy container" and refers specifically to a fishing rock near the mouth of what is now known as the Coquihalla River. Chance of snow 50%. [27] Highway 97C travels on this freeway 82 km (51 mi) northwest to Aspen Grove, where it converges with Highway 5A. Chance of snow 60%. Snow showers. There are many tools engineered into the design of the Coquihalla Highway to reduce the likelihood of avalanches affecting the route, which is why the Coquihalla sees less frequent closures for avalanche hazard and avalanche control than many other mountain passes in the province. The website is for information purposes only and we assume no liability for decisions made as a result of the information provided here. Coquihalla Summit (el. Here is a website with more information about winter tires and where they are required in BC: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/driving/traveller-information/seasonal/winter-driving/winter-tires-and-chains. Utility work planned between Thunder Creek Bridge and Blue River Bridge for 13.5 km (Blue River). In British Columbia, motorists will find such information at www.shiftintowinter.ca. won't privatize Coquihalla Highway", "Alberta highway shouldn't claim Coquihalla", "Actions to improve safety on B.C. Single lane alternating traffic will be in effect. el paso community college international students. Chance of snow 60%. Unless my logic is incorrect, something is wrong here. The Coquihalla is one of the most popular highway mountain passes in BC. We encountered an issue signing you up. This is one of the most amazing stretches of roads in North America. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. which shows MVKM (Million Vehicle Kilometres) for many highway segments. BC Transportation (@TranBC) November 17, 2021 The Coquihalla is one major route connecting the Interior to the Coast, and it remains closed between Hope and Merritt. Hes animated and passionate when he talks about what he has seen, and is genuinely concerned for the well-being of all folks travelling the Highway Thru Hell, whether by car or by Freightliner. Also if the steepest part of the Coquihalla between Hope to Merritt is the Smasher, is there an equivalent between Merritt and Kamloops? These defenses include: Road alignment designed to use Boston Bar creek as a natural catchment area. minor construction | last updated Thu Mar 2 at 4:51 PM PST. Youre fatigued and the driving is its most treacherous. Read more about cookies here. Check Weather and Road Conditions at the Great Bear Snowshed Highway Cam Road Condition Reports for the Coquihalla Hwy5 and Highway 97C Why the change? Hi Sarah, | next update Sat Mar 4 at 1:00 PM PST. A few snow showers developing later in the day. Zopkios Southbound S Hwy 5, southbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit, looking southwest. Avalanche control works planned Saturday morning followed by any required cleanup works. Surviving B.C.'s infamous 'Highway Thru Hell' | Driving Chance of snow 30%. Reinstate the toll to pay for highway maintenance; any $$ not used on the Coq. Low -9C. Low around -5C. Chance of snow 60%. Work will commence in a series of phased activities along the pipeline right-of-way. I have driven the highway dozens of times, the majority being 97C, but lots to Vancouver too. Compact snow. Although it is scenic and modern built, it poses many travel hazards. Winds light and variable. The original statistic should have read 3.3 million annual VKT/km, instead of 3.3 million annual VKT. The Coquihalla approximately traces through the Cascade Mountainsthe route of the former Kettle Valley Railway, which existed between 1912 and 1958. The closures of Highway 1 in the Fraser Valley along with the closure of other highways around the Lower Mainland,. Do you have information to supply? Smasher Time | TruckersReport.com Trucking Forum | #1 CDL Truck Driver The travel time between Hope to Kamloops is approximately 2 hours. Chance of snow 60%. Crews continue to clear snow in anticipation of an opening early afternoon Saturday. Variably cloudy with snow showers. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. The ascent to the Coquihalla Summit is very steep, especially from the south. Many of the catastrophic mistakes he bears witness to involve typical cars and SUVs rather than big rigs. WIDE LOADS OVER 4.5 METERS USE BOTH SOUTHBOUND LANES AT BOTTLE TOP BRIDGE. 2023 Driving, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. We hope that answered some questions or piqued your curiosity around the Coq. Built to enhance regional tourism and to lighten traffic on the busy trucking routes, the 303 km, 4-lane highway has 3 segments. It is located just south of the former toll booth plaza on the Coquihalla Highway, about 50 km north of Hope, and 65 km south of Merritt and is the divide between the Coquihalla River and the Coldwater River. We are looking into this for you. While many other service providers come and go, Davis remains. Highways 97C and 5A share the 28 km (17 mi) long route between Aspen Grove and Lower Nicola, where Highway 5A diverges immediately east and Highway 8 begins. High 2C. Highway 5 connects the southern Trans-Canada route (Highway 1) with the northern Trans-Canada/Yellowhead route (Highway 16), providing the shortest land connection between Vancouver and Edmonton. There are some portions of the Coquihalla where cycling is prohibited. Crews will have cleared the road, and youll be fresh., Davis goes on to say that the weather on the Coq, and in fact all mountain roads, can change in 20 minutes or less, and all the best forecasts can be wrong you just dont know.. Partly cloudy early, then some snow showers later in the day. It is located just south of the former toll booth plaza on the Coquihalla Highway, about 50 km (31 mi) north of Hope, and 65 km (40 mi) south of Merritt and is the divide between the Coquihalla River and the Coldwater River. Can you tell me the amount of fatalities on this pass since it opened? "The heavy rain will begin to transition to snow this afternoon as a cold front crosses the region and snow levels drop," the weather agency said. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. where is the smasher on the coquihalla - tourdefat.com Coquihalla Pass Wikipedia Republished // WIKI 2 This year we were way below average, receiving only 674cm of snowfall. C in cold winter weather. Snowfall amount 4 cm near the summit. It's a 12-mile hill for those of you watching from the United States and might end up in British Columbia going down one of the more notorious hills, made famous by the TV series, "Highway thru Hell." So we're going to do today, we're going to give you a bit of information on the descent down the hill from the Coquihalla summit. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. minor construction | last updated Wed Mar 1 at 8:21 AM PST. 3 Years Snow level 1200 metres. He sees it all the time, people milling around their cars at the side of the road exposing themselves to traffic unable to see them until its too late. Becoming partly cloudy later. You can find detailed informations about: wind speed, wind direction, pressure, temperature, humidity and visibility at Coquihalla. Chance of snow 50%. The Smasher. Coquihalla Road Reports | Facebook Chance of snow 60%. Highway Thru Hell | Episode 4 Wreck Analysis - VidoEmo I Need CDL Training Thanks for your comment! By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Coquihalla Box Canyon North Hwy 5, near Box Canyon Chain-up Area, looking north. Ten earth structures (stopping dams and mounds) which you probably wouldnt notice because they are now covered with vegetation. The Coq starts near sea level at Hope and then gains over a kilometre in elevation in less than 50km distance. Highway 5, in both directions. Safe travels! In spring, summer or fall, it's a breeze, but in winter there are at least 400-500 accidents and plenty of fatalities. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. [9] The opening celebrations featured a ceremony in Hope followed by a convoy led by premier Bennett in an open air convertible that smashed through paper banners strung across the new highway lanes, stopped at the Coquihalla summit to dedicate a time capsule, and continued to Merritt for further celebrations. Elkhart East Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector), about 25 km east of Hwy 5A/97C Junction, looking east. High 2C. 35km (22mi) north of Othello, after passing through five interchanges, Highway 5 reaches the landmark Great Bear snow shed. Go prepared, or go home. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. High around 0C. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Here is a link with more information on BC highways and cycling restrictions: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/cycling/cycling-regulations-restrictions-rules. Established in 1986 and clocking in at a respectable 159 hectares, Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park is a truly magical place. It is typically open all year round, with the occasional closure in winters due to dangerous weather conditions. It is located just south of the former toll booth plaza on the Coquihalla Highway, about 50 km north of Hope, and 65 km south of Merritt and is the divide between the Coquihalla River and the Coldwater River. Members are encouraged to submit articles about driving the Coquihalla. [2] After 10 years in office, Waterland retired from the Cabinet in 1986 a few months after seeing this part of the project through to its completion. Coquihalla Summit is not actually the highest point on the Coquihalla Highway, rather the Surrey Lake Summit[clarification needed] at 1,244m (4,081ft) is the highest point on the Coquihalla, which goes from Hope to the Highway 1 interchange outside of Kamloops. Rule of thumb conversion from water equivalent to snowfall is about 10:1, so that would have been approximately 1150 cm of snow, but we were talking precipitation, not snow depth. There is an installation of concrete blocks along the highway placed there to block avalanche flow. Hi there this information is availabel via the DataBC DriveBC catalogue here:https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/historical-drivebc-events The pass is named after the Coquihalla River, from which the highway also derives its name. If Hell was cold I'd agree with them. Coquihalla Great Bear Snowshed S Hwy 5, Great Bear Snowshed looking to the south. Zopkios Southbound N Hwy 5, northbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit looking to the south. Its not like bombing around in Vancouver or Toronto, says Davis. Variably cloudy with snow showers. Winter tires are required on high mountain passes in BC until March 31st at the least. Highway 5 was the only highway in British Columbia to have tolls; a typical passenger vehicle toll was C$10. minor road condition | last updated Sat Mar 4 at 6:45 AM PST. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 13 km (8 mi) north of the snow shed, after passing through another interchange and the 1244 m (4,147 ft) Coquihalla Pass, Highway 5 reaches the former toll booth; it was the only highway in British Columbia to have tolls. City folk drive out of Vancouver and forget that they have to go through a mountain pass, halfway up they are at the point of no return and arent equipped. And thats when things go wrong. Hello Anne and thank you for your message. I was wondering if you had the information on the percent grade climbing up Surrey Lake Summit. 35 km (22 mi) north of Othello, after passing through five interchanges, Highway 5 reaches the Great Bear snow shed, which is a landmark on the route. The tunnel entrance of the mountain pass on B.C.s Highway 5. tap here to see other videos from our team. From 6:00 PM to 3:00 AM PST on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Some decrease in clouds late. Powerful engines, harsh weather, and steep drop-offs are only a few of the elements that have defined Highway Thru Hell. For most of this section it is a 4 lane divided highway with several signalized intersections and a speed limit of 80km/h (50mph). Winter tires or chains are required on most routes in British Columbia from October 1 to April 30. Vehicle recovery between Inks Lake Rd and Chuwhels Mountain Rd for 4.0 km (13 to 9 km south of Kamloops). Highway rescuer Jamie Davis, featured in the Discovery Channels Highway Thru Hell reality show, has seen it all on B.C.s infamous Highway 5. Highland Valley Road Highway 97C, at Highland Valley Rd, about 61 km north of Merritt and 46 km south of Ashcroft, looking north. Zopkios Northbound N Hwy 5, northbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit looking to the north. 61 km (38 mi) and five interchanges later, the Coquihalla enters the city of Merritt at its south junction with Highway 5A and Highway 97C. Bottom line: be certain you can spend five hours or possibly a day or two by yourself in a snowstorm. Utility work planned between Harmon Rd and Vavenby Bridge Rd (Vavenby). OTHELLO TUNNELS (Hope) - 2023 What to Know BEFORE You Go - Tripadvisor What are the concrete bunkers visible along the #5 highway between Hope and Merritt? Thanks for your comment. [16][17], Effective July 2, 2014, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure increased the speed limit of Coquihalla Highway from 110km/h (68mph) to 120km/h (75mph) after conducting an engineering assessment and province-wide speed review. Chance of snow 60%. Mountain pass in British Columbia, Canada, Southern approach to Coquihalla Summit as viewed from, List of mountain passes of the Cascade Range, "Editorials: Farewell to a prime politician", "Coquihalla Highway reopens after massive avalanche control operation", BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways Infopage, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coquihalla_Summit&oldid=1138202497, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from November 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 14:53. What are the round cement bunker like structures along the highway?? Despite recent challenges on the lower portion of the highway, the Coquihalla does indeed remain a marvel of engineering. Hope that this helps. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. Coquihalla Box Canyon South Hwy 5, near Box Canyon Chain-up Area, looking south. Part of the Highway 5, the road is193 km (119 miles) long, running north-south from Kamloops to Hope via Merritt. Compact snow. It looks like the statistics presented on the page dont go back to 1986, when it originally opened, but you might be able to reach out to ICBC for more information. Sometime in March? Safe travels. 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[7] The three phases have been credited with transforming Merritt into an important transportation hub between the coast and interior, as well as significant growth in both Kamloops and the Okanagan due to improved accessibility. Zopkios - Hwy 5, southbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit, looking northeast. GENERAL STATS The severe winter snow and winds threaten even the most experienced and best-equipped drivers. Highway 5, in both directions. Lane Closure. Her deadly weapons of choice include sheets of ice, blinding snowstorms, and avalanches. On December 20, 2021, the Coquihalla Highway was reopened to essential traffic, with non- essential traffic being diverted towards Highway 99. The Coquihalla Valley has long been a major transportation route from the coast to the interior. Pennask Summit Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector). The weather today in Coquihalla Thursday, 02 March 2023 . It is largely a two-lane undivided road, with some rare three- or four-lane sections for passing, although work has been constantly underway (especially in the Heffley CreekClearwater section) to create more passing opportunities. REMINDER - #BCHwy5 CLOSED in both directions between #HopeBC and #Merritt due to heavy congestion and extreme winter weather. Winds light and variable. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. We are looking into this for you. We used to use the guns for avalanche control in the area, but the ministry now use helicopters to detonate explosives and trigger controlled avalanches. Our BC HighwayCams also have a weather feature on each cam which will give you an idea of forecasted weather along the route. Low -8C. 10 day. The Coquihalla Highway - Phase 1, Hope to Merritt - was completed in time for Expo 86 in 1986. Although the Yellowhead Highway system is considered part of the Trans-Canada Highway network, Highway 5 is not represented with a Trans-Canada marker. Davis has seen them: the oblivious fools who wear shorts and sandals to drive the Coq in the winter in their low-slung performance machines shod in useless all-season tires. Edit your picks to remove vehicles if you want to add different ones. Its a fine highway. Jan 30, 2013 Surrey, BC 0 This is The Smasher on BC's Coquihalla Highway. Road construction work between Exit 231: Mine Creek Rd and Exit 250: Larson Hill for 18.6 km (31 to 12 km north of Coquihalla Summit). According to St:l oral history, the skw'exweq (water babies, underwater people) who inhabit a pool close by the rock, would swim out and pull the salmon off the spears, allowing only certain fisherman to catch the salmon."[2]. Along with adequate provisions to maintain ones warmth and energy, there are the obvious car-related preparations, such as proper snow tires. Its an interesting stretch of highway that comes with its unique challenges but our district staff and maintenance contractors will continue to monitor the Coquihalla and keep you moving as efficiently and as safely as possible. It was a toll road until 2008. Snow accumulations less than 2cm. ", "Coquihalla Highway set to reopen to regular traffic | BC Gov News", "Highway Exits & Landmarks - Coquihalla Highway 5 Starts (Yellowhead Route)", Template:Attached KML/British Columbia Highway 5, 7 Things You Need to Know BEFORE Driving the Coquihalla and High Mountain Passes, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=British_Columbia_Highway_5&oldid=1134238496, East end of Hwy3 concurrency; south end of, Coquihalla Lakes Rest Area (former site of toll booths), Coquihalla Lakes Road Britton Creek Rest Area, South end of Hwy1/ Hwy97 concurrency; north end of, North end of Hwy1/ Hwy97 concurrency; Hwy5 exits freeway; exit numbers continue on Hwy1, This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 17:46. Low -7C. 's infamous 'Highway Thru Hell'. The data and electronic links provided in this web site are for informational purposes only and bchighway.com disclaims all responsibility for the accuracy of site content or linked information. Mostly cloudy skies early. minor incident | last updated Sat Mar 4 at 6:32 AM PST. The highway, varying between four and six lanes, is pretty good, some sections have frost heaves and uneven pavement but it's 2 lanes each way so slower traffic like trucks are not an issue. Winds NE at 10 to 15 km/h. Unfortunately, we dont have this information. But being its a high mountain road, you have to be prepared and drive to the conditions. Weather Coquihalla . government privatizing toll highway", "B.C. In its whole length there is only one traffic signal, which is in the town of Valemount. High -2C. Why pay for it again? 1 Year