The province is alerting drivers to conditions and events that may be affecting highway roads until fall 2026.
One event taking place this summer will be the B.C. Highway Flood Recovery Projects along Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton. Although the roads are currently open for general traffic, drivers must drive to conditions as portions of the highway have several steep grades and sharp turns.
Due to the many tight curves, speed advisories are as low as 30 kilometres per hour in some areas. There are more than 150 curves along the 135-kilometre route which is majority two lanes. The highway also includes grades of up to eight per cent and three brake checks with limited rest and stopping areas.
Works will be conducted along the embankments of the Similkameen River next to Highway 3, and the project site encompasses six sites located on the highway between Manning Park and East Gate Entrance-Manning Park, approximately 45 kilometres southwest of Princeton.
Works include:
- Remediation of the embankments, shoulders and drainage channels.
- Excavation, stockpiling and reuse of existing rip rap and placement of new rap at six separate Highway 3 locations within the site.
- Removal, replacement and abandonment of existing culverts.
- Installation of habitat enhancements in the form of root wads.
Copper Creek permanent repairs are planned for this summer and design for permanent repairs along the corridor will continue through this year. Additional embankment repairs are planned through summer until the fall of next year.
The highway is safe, but drivers are urged to obey speed limits and adhere to curve advisory speed signs. The mountainous road also sees large temperature swings which can quickly change road conditions. Having sufficient supplies available, such as chains, and completing brake checks and vehicle inspections before travelling are encouraged.
