Drivers headed along Highway 1 through the Fraser and Thompson Canyons are being advised to watch for road closures from March 21–26, as permanent repairs are made in the aftermath of the November 2021 atmospheric river that hit the region.
At Tank Hill, 14 kilometres east of Lytton, a new overpass is being created to carry the highway over the CPKC mainline. Prior to November 2021 the highway passed beneath the rail line, but temporary repairs at the site which were completed in January 2022 have meant the highway crosses the rail line at grade, leading to delays for motorists when trains pass through.
Work on the new overpass is scheduled to be largely complete by December 2025. In order to accommodate a crane move at the site, and facilitate the placement of girders on the new structure over the CPKC mainline, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit will be implementing one overnight closure and three daytime closures at Tank Hill.
The overnight closure will be from 12 a.m. (midnight) to 4 a.m. on Friday, March 21. The three daytime closures will be on Monday, March 24, Tuesday, March 25, and Wednesday, March 26, from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. each day.
During the closure periods, hard closures will be in place at the intersection of Highways 1 and 12 (Lytton) and Highways 1 and 8 (Spences Bridge). Checkpoints at both locations will be maintained in order to provide travellers with information about their options. Local traffic will still have access to the Gladwin area and Nicomen River Road; all other traffic will be detoured via Highway 12 and Highway 5.
Drivers travelling between the Interior and the Lower Mainland during the planned closure times are encouraged to use Highway 3 or Highway 5 as alternative routes (Highway 8 is not available as a detour route). Emergency vehicles will be provided with access throughout the planned closures.
For more information about highway closures, including detour routes, go to www.drivebc.ca.
