Progress being made in reopening damaged transportation routes in BC

Transportation Minister Rob Fleming says progress is being made in reopening damaged transportation routes, but the Coquihalla Highway, a major route to B-C's Interior, remains closed to all traffic until at least late January after sustaining bridge and road damage at numerous sites.

He says rail traffic through the Interior to and from Vancouver has restarted for both Canadian National and Canadian Pacific

railways, Highway 99 from Pemberton to Lillooet was reopened following a second slide, while Highway 7 between Agassiz and Hope was opened to non-essential traffic following several slides and travel restrictions.

Fleming says Highway 3 into the Interior is the only major open route, but traffic is restricted to commercial vehicles.

The B-C government has not provided a damage estimate caused by the floods and slides other than to say it will hugely expensive.