Coquihalla Highway closure leaves people stranded in cars overnight (PHOTOS)

Feb 11 2017, 12:27 am

It’s been a long night for some weary travellers. And it isn’t over yet.

There was no highway access overnight from the Lower Mainland to the BC interior due to poor road conditions and avalanche risk as Highway 99 and all routes east of Hope had shut down.

Highway 99 remains closed due to a high avalanche risk near Pemberton.

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As for the Coquihalla Highway, after it was closed yesterday due to poor road conditions from heavy snowfall, it reopened late in the afternoon.

However, it wasn’t long before it was closed again, as freezing rain essentially turned the highway into a sheet of ice.

Unfortunately, there were already hundreds of cars in both directions on the highway by this time, and with nowhere to go, people spent the night in their cars.

As of 8:30 am, the Coquihalla Highway is still closed and DriveBC doesn’t expect the road will be open until noon today.

The other main routes out of the Lower Mainland – Highway 1 and Highway 3 – were also closed due to avalanche hazard. But as of just after 8 am, Highway 3 opened from Hope to Manning Park Lodge, but delays can expected due to congestion.

And as of 8:30 Friday morning, the Coquihalla was still closed, due to a vehicle accident.

In the meantime, those stranded overnight on the mountain passes, shared their experience on social media.

A photo posted by danielhirner (@danielhirner) on

A photo posted by Wylie Hui (@kyotea) on

A photo posted by Patrice Renaud (@fg_traveller) on

A photo posted by Darren James (@ruthless229) on

A photo posted by Clayton (@cdub1111) on

A photo posted by DiDi Lin (@instadidi) on

A photo posted by DiDi Lin (@instadidi) on

DH Vancouver StaffDH Vancouver Staff

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