Image: Emil Anderson Maintenance / The highway near Hope, B.C.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Highway closures

Highways near Hope to be detoured starting Tuesday morning

Jan 19, 2026 | 6:11 PM

HOPE — The B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit says there will be temporary highway closures and detours near Hope starting Tuesday morning for emergency repair work on sections of highways affected by December flooding.

In a statement, the province says Highways 1, 3 and the 3/5 split will be fully closed to complete repairs as quickly as possible in light of safety concerns associated with the current pavement conditions and the favourable weather window available this week to undertake this urgent work.

The Ministry of Transportation and Transit’s contractor will implement full closures at four locations: two daytime closures on highways 1 and 3 westbound between the Highway 3/5 split and the Hunter Creek Scale, and one short-duration nighttime closure on Highway 5 southbound in Merritt for paving at the Highway 3/5 split east of Hope.

Closures will occur on the following days:

* Highway 3 paving near Hope on Tuesday, Jan. 20 (7 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.): Highway 3 traffic will be diverted through Exit 173, the Old Hope Princeton Highway in Hope. Traffic will detour through town and reconnect to Highway 1 westbound west of Hope.

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* Highway 1 paving west of Hope on Wednesday, Jan. 21 (7 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.): Highway 3 traffic will again be diverted through Exit 173, the Old Hope Princeton Highway in Hope. Traffic will detour through town via Water Avenue and be routed to Highway 7, where motorists can rejoin Highway 1 westbound via Highway 9, or continue toward the Lower Mainland via Highway 7.

* Highway 3/5 split paving east of Hope on Thursday, Jan. 22 (overnight from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m.): Highway 5 southbound in Merritt will be closed overnight to complete repairs. Highway 3 westbound traffic travelling from Princeton to Hope will move through a reduced-speed zone near the work zone.

During the closure windows, drivers are reminded to slow down, follow signage and obey traffic-control officials. Drivers are advised to expect delays and allow for additional travel time on these days.