UPDATE: Hwy 3 fully reopened Saturday evening after earlier closures

(UPDATE: Dec. 8 @ 7:55 am) - Hwy 3 fully reopened last night after a pair of Saturday afternoon vehicle incidents between Christina Lake and Castlegar were cleared.

✅CLEAR #BCHwy3 #BCHwy22 #BCHwy3B #ChristinaLake #Paulson #Castlegar https://t.co/oF3xqGyGIU

— DriveBC (@DriveBC) December 8, 2024

(UPDATE: Dec. 7 @ 3:30 pm) - DriveBC has rescinded its travel advisory for Hwy 3 and the highway has reopened near Christina Lake after one of the two earlier vehicle incidents was cleared.

Commuters will still have to use the Hwy 3B and Hwy 22 detour to get around the vehicle incident that is west of Castlegar.

⛔#BCHwy3 Remains closed between #BCHwy22 & #BCHwy3B due to a vehicle incident. Estimated time of reopening at 7pm.
ℹ️https://t.co/oDG67HR9qb #Castlegar #Paulson #ChristinaLake https://t.co/1SIQtphLUG

— DriveBC (@DriveBC) December 8, 2024

Environment Canada has discontinued its freezing rain warning for the area, but a snowfall warning remains and is expected to stick around until Saturday evening.

Up-to-date road conditions can be found online at this link.

(Original story: Dec. 7 @ 12:30 pm) - DriveBC is recommending commuters avoid travelling on Hwy 3 between Christina Lake and Salmo following a pair of weather warnings and two vehicle incidents that have closed the highway.

❄🌧⛔#BCHwy3 travel advisory for freezing rain between #SalmoBC & #ChristinaLake. Travel is not recommended. https://t.co/mrsrlXYeXd #Bombi #Paulson

— DriveBC (@DriveBC) December 7, 2024

One of the vehicle incidents occurred about 18 kilometres east of Christina Lake and DriveBC says an assessment is in progress, with an update expected later this afternoon.

The other vehicle incident occurred just before Castlegar between Hwy 3B and the junction for Hwy 22.

A detour is available for the second incident via Hwy 3B and Hwy 22. An assessment is also in progress and an update is expected this afternoon.

Environment Canada has issued a freezing rain warning for Hwy 3 from Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass. The warning is expected to last until early this afternoon.

The freezing rain warning is on top of a snowfall warning already in place for the same section of the highway. The snowfall warning is expected to last until Sunday morning.

Up-to-date road conditions can be found online at this link.

_{Thumbnail photo courtesy of DriveBC.}