Heavy rainfall, flood worries prompt B.C. highway closures

In case you are planning on trying to drive to the Lower Mainland today you might want to change those plans.

A major rainstorm that will bring an expected 80-120 millimetres to the part of Vancouver Island and Greater Vancouver has already begun and the province has closed the highways previously affected by last week’s catastrophic flooding.

The closures now in effect are as follows:

Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton;

Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon and Highway 1 between Popkum and Hope;

Highway 99 between Pemberton and Lillooet, starting at 4 p.m. today.

The closure of Highway 1 between Popkum and Hope was necessary due to the threat of today’s rain and because of planned reservoir releases by BC Hydro, needed to protect the Jones Lake Reservoir, which has also been impacted by the recent heavy rain events.

How long the highways remain closed is dependent on how long the rain lasts this weekend. Transportation ministry authorities plan to re-evaluate the situation on Sunday. Go to www.drivebc.ca for further updates.