Overnight closure planned for the Trans-Canada Highway through the Fraser Canyon

A lengthy closure on the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1) through the Fraser Canyon is scheduled for next week.

BC’s Ministry of Transportation and Transit said the highway will be closed in both directions on Monday, May 20 from midnight until 4 am.

The closure is happening at Tank Hill, which is about 14 kilometres east of Lytton.

The ministry said the closure will allow for crews to reposition a crane that is on site so it can continue girder and deck panel installation on a new bridge being built.

This is part of the ongoing washout recovery work that followed the November 2021 floods. Construction is on schedule to be complete by this November.

“Checkpoints will be set up at Lytton and Spences Bridge to provide travellers with information about alternative routes,” the ministry said. “The closures will be in place at the intersections of Highway 1 and Highway 12, and Highway 1 and Highway 8.”

Civilian vehicles will not be allowed through during the stoppage but the ministry said it will work with emergency services to allow them access through the site if needed.

Local traffic will be permitted int he Gladwin area and Nicomen River Road but all other traffic will be detoured via Hwy 12 and Hwy 5 (Coquihalla).

Anyone driving between the Interior and Lower Mainland is advised to use Hwy 3 or Hwy 5 during the closure.