Image: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure / Damage to Silver Skagit Road south of Highway 1, and south of Hope, is shown. The B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure says there are more than 20 flood-damaged sites along Silver Skagit Road between Highway 1 and the U.S. border.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Silver Skagit Road

Silver Skagit Road still heavily damaged south of Hope to the U.S. border after 2021 floods

Jan 28, 2023 | 7:36 AM

HOPE — As much as the province has sought to repair vital highways and roads following the heavy floods of late 2021, including the essential Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt, there’s still a recreational road south of Hope that remains severely damaged.

According to an update from the province, the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure reports that about 51.7 kilometres of Silver Skagit Road south of Hope, from near Silver Lake to the U.S. border, remain closed.

The provincial transportation ministry wrote on its website (gov.bc.ca/silverskagitroad) that Silver Skagit Road is open to the public from the intersection with Flood Hope Road to the 6.3-km mark, but is currently closed to traffic from the 6.3-km mark to 58 kilometres at the Canada-USA border due to more than 20 flood-damaged sites along the route.

Maintenance work is ongoing on Silver Skagit Road for the first 6.3 kilometres and West Fork to Silver Lake Provincial Park. South of the construction gate at the 6.3-km mark, road repair and embankment armouring work continue. Geotechnical and hydrotechnical assessments are ongoing, and a construction schedule is being charted for the phases of work to follow.

Image: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure / An aerial view of the damage to Silver Skagit Road from a drone.

Community Support

Chilliwack organization receives over $942K from Elements Casino

10h ago

Increased Spring Patrols

Stray bullet enters family car after illegal shooting in Mission backcountry

13h ago

Bell Acres Water System

FVRD to reduce water reservoir levels at Chilliwack River Valley area due to 'irregularities'

15h ago

The good news is that access to Silver Lake Campground has been repaired and Silver Lake Provincial Park is open to public access. For more information visit BC Parks.

“In November 2021, an atmospheric river brought an unprecedented amount of rain to the province just as winter was beginning,” the province wrote on its website. “Highway infrastructure, including roads and bridges, was heavily impacted by the water. High water levels and slides damaged bridges and culverts, as well as large road sections. This resulted in cutting off main access routes to several areas of the province. Slides can be complex and challenging to mitigate. They are often massive, and extremely difficult and expensive to stabilize.”

The 2021 B.C. Highway Flood Recovery Projects are being undertaken to address the transportation impact on these routes, consisting of Highways 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 19, 99 and other side roads. But the province acknowledges it will take years to fully recover from the extensive damage caused by flooding.

“The people who build and maintain roads in B.C. have a reputation second to none, and their response to this disaster was remarkable,” the province said.” Working day and night they have completed temporary repairs that allowed many areas to reopen. However, the damage is extensive and will take years to fully recover.”

by Mike Vanden Bosch

Click here to report an error or typo in this article

Join Our Daily Email

Silver Skagit Road still heavily damaged south of Hope to the U.S. border after 2021 floods

More Local News