(UPDATE: March 13 @ 5:21 am) - The highway has now fully reopened.
✅OPEN - #BCHwy5 southbound between #Merritt and #HopeBC after an earlier vehicle incident. #Coquihalla
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) March 13, 2026
(UPDATE: March 12 @ 4 pm) - Shortly before 2 pm, DriveBC announced that the southbound lanes of the Coquihalla (Hwy 5) were open again after a 16-hour closure.
Unfortunately, that didn't even last two hours, as another vehicle incident between Merritt and Hope has once again forced the closure of the highway's southbound lanes.
According to DriveBC, an assessment is currently in progress. The northbound lanes remain open at this time.
(UPDATE: March 12 @ 12:45 pm) - According to DriveBC, the Coquihalla (Hwy 5) is now open northbound.
The southbound lanes remain closed at this time.
(UPDATE: March 12 @ 11:30 am) - The Hope-Princeton (Hwy 3) has reopened west of Allison Pass.
However, the Coquihalla (Hwy 5) remains closed at this time and there is no estimate as to when the major route will reopen.
The highway shut down around 10 pm Wednesday following a major wreck.
(Original story: March 12 @ 9 am) - Wednesday night’s winter storm was expected to create issues for highway travel between the Lower Mainland and BC Interior, and it did just that.
The Coquihalla (Hwy 5) remains shut down Thursday morning following a major wreck around 10 pm Wednesday.
According to DriveBC, the highway is shut down just north of Othello Road.
Meanwhile, the Hope-Princeton (Hwy 3) is closed in both directions west of Allison Pass, which DriveBC blames on “multiple vehicle incidents.” Multiple tow trucks and snow plows are said to be en route to assist.
Hwy 5 is also shut down well north of Kamloops in the Vavenby area, while Hwy 5A is closed between Hwy 3 and Hwy 97C.
As always, you can check the most up to date highway conditions and closures by visiting the DriveBC website.
⛔REMINDER - Several highway closures are in effect throughout BC's southern interior due to vehicle incidents and adverse driving conditions.
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) March 12, 2026
-#BCHwy5 north of #OthelloBC
-#BCHwy3 west of Allison Pass
-#BCHwy5 north of #Vavenby & south of #AvolaBC
-#BCHwy5A north of Allison…
