British Columbia

Trans-Canada Highway reopens near B.C.-Alberta boundary following rock slide

A section of the Trans-Canada Highway has reopened, more than a week after a rock slide closed the interprovincial route.

Closure was said to cost the trucking industry $75K per day

The rock slide on Highway 1 was triggered by contractors drilling holes to place explosives at the rock scaling site, approximately 16 kilometres west of Field, B.C. (Parks Canada)

A section of the Trans-Canada Highway has reopened, more than a week after a rock slide closed the interprovincial route.

The slide occurred west of Field, B.C., on Oct. 24 as crews did scaling work in the area to remove loose rocks.

Parks Canada says in a release that two workers were hurt when 10,000 cubic metres of rocks and debris fell.

The slide closed the highway in both directions until Thursday, when traffic was allowed to resume.

Parks Canada says motorists going through the area should expect a reduced speed zone and occasional delays, and a full road closure may be required later this fall.

It says workers are still trying to stabilize the rock face and prepare the site for winter, and assessments are ongoing to make sure the area is safe.

The slide was said to cost the trucking industry an estimated $75,000 a day and made life difficult for people who work in the area.