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Parts of BC 97 washed away in floods; 10-hour detour through Alberta

Started by Kniwt, June 19, 2016, 08:35:21 PM

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Kniwt

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/peace-river-floods-wash-outs-stranded-chetwynd-dawson-creek-b-c-1.3642107

QuoteHighway 97 near Chetwynd, which links the Peace region to the rest of B.C., remains closed with multiple locations completely washed-out or severely damaged, especially in the area of Pine Pass.

The Ministry of Transportation predicted highway repairs would take weeks. The alternate route for drivers involves a ten-hour detour through Alberta.



http://www.drivebc.ca/#listView&severity=Major
Highway 97 Both directions
Closed in both directions from Junction with Highway 39, south of MacKenzie to Junction with Highway 29, in Chetwynd (147.8 km) because of Flooding. Closed because of failures in several locations until further notice. Updated on Sun Jun 19 at 10:52 am PDT. (ID# 220234)


SignGeek101

Looks nasty up there. I'm always been amazed by the power water has to push material like that.

oscar

That part of BC 97 (which, by coincidence, I drove last month) is part of the "West Access Route" for travelers headed for the Alaska Highway from the coast. For them, another option is to take TCH 16 west from Prince George BC to BC 37, then take that north to connect to the Alaska Highway near Watson Lake YT. BC 37 has been improved in recent years, but last I drove it in 2012 it still had some unpaved segments (the Milepost reports it now is fully paved), and also was thin on traveler services.
my Hot Springs and Highways pages, with links to my roads sites:
http://www.alaskaroads.com/home.html

nexus73

Floods for BC,  Fire for Alberta.  Canada is sure getting clobbered.  Maybe they can rename themselves "California"...LOL!

Rick
US 101 is THE backbone of the Pacific coast from Bandon OR to Willits CA.  Industry, tourism and local traffic would be gone or severely crippled without it being in functioning condition in BOTH states.

opspe

I think the Cassiar Hwy (BC 37) is still unpaved for several miles near the Stikine River.  However, that "detour" route is far, far, FAR longer than going through Jasper.

The current 10 hour detour is maybe 600 miles.  Going up on the Cassiar is about 1,300 miles.  (Both counting from PG to Dawson Creek - for comparison, the direct closed route is about 250 mi)

AsphaltPlanet

Quote from: nexus73 on June 20, 2016, 10:12:06 AM
Floods for BC,  Fire for Alberta.  Canada is sure getting clobbered.  Maybe they can rename themselves "California"...LOL!

Rick

Californada
AsphaltPlanet.ca  Youtube -- Opinions expressed reflect the viewpoints of others.

oscar

Quote from: opspe on June 20, 2016, 10:51:44 AM
I think the Cassiar Hwy (BC 37) is still unpaved for several miles near the Stikine River.  However, that "detour" route is far, far, FAR longer than going through Jasper.

The current 10 hour detour is maybe 600 miles.  Going up on the Cassiar is about 1,300 miles.  (Both counting from PG to Dawson Creek)

But if your ultimate destination is Alaska or the Yukon, rather than northern BC, the Cassiar detour works much better, and indeed is not a bad option even after BC 97 is fixed. 

Prince George BC to Watson Lake YT (easternmost community in the Yukon, on the Alaska Highway):

Via Dease Lake on BC 37: about 760 miles
Via Jasper AB: about 1160 miles
Via Dawson Creek BC once the closed BC 97 segment reopens: about 860 miles
Via the BC 29 shortcut, bypassing Dawson Creek, post-reopening: about 825 miles

But if you're headed to Fort Nelson BC or beyond into the Northwest Territories via BC 77/NT 7, the Alberta detour is much shorter, since it avoids a long backtrack on the Alaska Highway between Watson Lake and Fort Nelson.
my Hot Springs and Highways pages, with links to my roads sites:
http://www.alaskaroads.com/home.html

opspe

True.  I just figure most traffic on that stretch of 97 is going to Peace River country.

Kniwt

Could be reopen to one-lane alternating traffic by the end of this week:
http://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/regional-news/pine-pass-expected-to-open-to-traffic-by-the-end-of-the-week-1.2282985

QuoteGovernment officials are hopeful Highway 97 south from the Pine Pass to Chetwynd will be opened to single lane alternating traffic by the end of the week after torrential rainfall washed out parts of the highway.

More than 178 pieces of equipment are actively repairing the damage, with more on the way, according to Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone.



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