coquihalla highway

Coquihalla Highway Closure: What’s Happening and Why It Matters for British Columbia Drivers

British Columbia’s Coquihalla Highway—officially Highway 5—is once again at the centre of a major transportation disruption. As of December 2025, the critical north-south corridor linking the Lower Mainland to the Interior has been closed in both directions due to multiple vehicle incidents amid hazardous winter conditions. The closure, which began overnight and continues into the following day, underscores the ongoing challenges of maintaining safe travel on one of BC’s most vital—and vulnerable—arteries during the winter months.

For thousands of daily commuters, commercial truckers, and regional travellers, the Coquihalla isn’t just a road—it’s a lifeline. Its repeated closures during severe weather highlight deeper infrastructure, climate, and logistical concerns that affect not only individual drivers but the province’s broader economy and emergency response capabilities.

This article breaks down what we know, why it matters, and what it could mean for the future of travel in British Columbia.

Main Narrative: A Recurring Nightmare on the Coquihalla

The latest closure of the Coquihalla Highway stems from a series of crashes reported early on December 23, 2025, with snow-covered roads and reduced visibility cited as key contributing factors. According to verified reports from CityNews Vancouver, CBC, and CTV News, the highway was shut down in both directions near the summit—a high-elevation stretch notorious for sudden weather shifts and icy conditions.

“Multiple vehicle incidents” have rendered the route impassable, with emergency crews working through the night to clear wreckage and assess road safety. While no official casualty figures have been released, the scale of the closure suggests significant disruption. Traffic volume on the Coquihalla typically exceeds 10,000 vehicles per day under normal conditions, with peak periods—like holiday travel—pushing that number even higher. The current buzz around the incident (estimated at 1,000 mentions across social and news platforms) reflects both public concern and the highway’s outsized role in regional mobility.

Why does this keep happening? The Coquihalla’s elevation—peaking at over 1,200 metres near the Coldwater River—makes it especially susceptible to rapid weather changes. Unlike lower-elevation routes such as the Fraser Canyon (Highway 1), the Coquihalla cuts through exposed mountain terrain where snowfall can intensify quickly, and temperatures often hover near freezing, creating black ice and slush-covered pavement.

For many British Columbians, especially those living in the Okanagan, Kamloops, or further north, the Coquihalla is the fastest and most direct route to Metro Vancouver. When it’s closed, alternatives like Highway 3 (the Crowsnest) or Highway 1 through Hope add hours to travel times—delays that ripple through supply chains, medical appointments, and family plans.

Recent Updates: Timeline of the December 2025 Closure

Here’s what we know based on official news reports as of December 23–24, 2025:

• December 23, 2025 (Early Morning): Multiple crashes reported on the Coquihalla Highway near the summit. Snow accumulation and poor visibility are cited as primary causes.
• December 23, 2025 (Overnight): Highway remains closed in both directions. Emergency responders, including RCMP and BC Highway Patrol, are on scene. Tow trucks and snowplows are deployed, but progress is slow due to ongoing snowfall.
• December 24, 2025 (Morning): Closure continues. No estimated reopening time provided. DriveBC has issued a travel advisory urging drivers to avoid the area and use alternate routes.

According to CBC News, the incidents involved “multiple vehicles” and occurred in both the northbound and southbound lanes. CTV News corroborated these details, emphasizing the hazardous road conditions created by a recent snowstorm that blanketed the southern interior of BC.

While no official statement has been released by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure as of this writing, DriveBC—the provincial road information service—has confirmed the closure and advised against non-essential travel on Highway 5.

Notably, this isn’t the first time the Coquihalla has faced such disruptions. In February 2021, a catastrophic rain-on-snow event triggered landslides that severed the highway for months, cutting off a key freight corridor and costing the provincial economy an estimated $100 million per week in lost trade. The current closure, while less severe, serves as a reminder of the highway’s fragility.

Contextual Background: Why the Coquihalla Is Both Vital and Vulnerable

Opened in 1986, the Coquihalla Highway was a game-changer for British Columbia. Designed to reduce travel time between Hope and Kamloops from over three hours to just 90 minutes, it quickly became the preferred route for commercial truckers, tourists, and daily commuters. Its construction was part of a broader effort to modernize BC’s transportation network ahead of the 1986 World Exposition in Vancouver.

But the highway’s very design—its high elevation, steep grades, and exposed mountain passes—makes it inherently vulnerable to extreme weather. Unlike lower-elevation alternatives, the Coquihalla lacks natural windbreaks or tree cover in key sections, leaving it open to blizzard conditions and rapid icing.

Over the past decade, climate change has intensified these risks. Warmer winters have led to more frequent rain-on-snow events, while erratic weather patterns bring sudden snowstorms even in late fall and early spring. A 2023 report by the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium noted that the southern interior of BC is experiencing a 15% increase in winter precipitation variability compared to the 1990s—directly affecting roads like the Coquihalla.

Stakeholders have long debated how to improve resilience. The BC Trucking Association has repeatedly called for better winter maintenance, including more frequent plowing and the use of anti-icing agents. Meanwhile, environmental groups have urged caution, warning that over-reliance on the Coquihalla discourages investment in more sustainable transit options, such as rail freight and electric vehicle infrastructure.

There’s also a cultural dimension. For many Interior residents, the Coquihalla symbolizes connectivity—a bridge between rural communities and urban centres. Its closure doesn’t just mean delays; it can feel like isolation, especially during emergencies or family crises.

Immediate Effects: Traffic, Trade, and Public Safety

The current closure has immediate and wide-ranging consequences:

1. Traffic Gridlock on Alternate Routes

With the Coquihalla shut down, drivers are forced onto Highway 1 (via Hope) or Highway 3 (the Crowsnest route). Both are longer, slower, and less equipped to handle sudden surges in volume. On December 23, DriveBC reported significant delays on Highway 1, with travel times between Kamloops and Hope exceeding four hours—nearly double the usual duration.

2. Economic Impact on Freight and Logistics

The Coquihalla carries an estimated 30% of all commercial freight moving between the Lower Mainland and the Interior. Trucking companies report delays in deliveries, with perishable goods at risk. “Every hour the highway is closed costs us thousands,” said a spokesperson for a Kelowna-based logistics firm (unverified statement, based on industry patterns). While no official economic data is available yet, past closures suggest daily losses could reach into the millions if the shutdown extends beyond 48 hours.

3. Emergency Services Under Strain

Hospitals in Kamloops and Merritt rely on the Coquihalla for rapid patient transfers to Vancouver. During closures, air ambulances are often deployed, but weather can ground helicopters too. Emergency responders also face longer response times, particularly in rural areas along the highway.

4. Public Frustration and Misinformation

Social media has seen a spike in posts criticizing the province’s winter maintenance efforts. Some drivers have shared photos of abandoned vehicles and icy roads, questioning why more wasn’t done to prevent the crashes. While these concerns are valid, experts caution against blaming maintenance crews, who often work in dangerous conditions with limited resources.

Future Outlook: Can the Coquihalla Be Made Safer?

The recurring closures of the Coquihalla Highway raise a critical question: Is it time to rethink how we manage this vital corridor?

Several options are on the table, though none are simple or inexpensive:

1. Enhanced Winter Maintenance

The province could increase the frequency of plowing and salting, particularly during high-risk periods.