B.C. shuts down most highway access to Lower Mainland amid flooding

Many major highways connecting B.C.’s Lower Mainland to the province’s Interior have been forced to close Wednesday night due to heavy rains brought on by an atmospheric river.

Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Kelly Greene held a second emergency media event of the day at 8:30 p.m., announcing the affected roads.

“Access between the Lower Mainland and the Interior is closed at this time. Other highways and roadways may be closed as required and conditions are changing rapidly,” said Greene.

Several flood advisories, watches, and warnings are in effect in both regions.

The ministry’s travel advisory includes:

• Highway 1 is closed eastbound at Highway 9
• Highway 1 is closed between Hope and Lytton
• Highway 3 is closed between Hope and Princeton
• Highway 5 is closed between Hope and Merritt
• Highway 7 is closed west of Hope (between Highway 9 and Ross Road)
• Highway 11 at the Sumas border crossing is closed to commercial traffic, open to local traffic only
• Highway 99 is closed between Mount Currie and Lillooet

“There is no timeline for reopening. Drivers are cautioned that other provincial roadways could be closed with little or no notice.”

Greene says people are encouraged to stay off the roads to ensure they’re clear for those ordered to evacuate.

She says the province is “actively working with local governments, First Nations and partners, including officials in Washington state, to ensure everyone has what they need to keep people safe.”

“And we will continue to work together throughout the night.”

Connie Chapman, executive director of water management, says that while rain in the Fraser Valley is easing, the Nooksack River across the U.S. border will continue to top its banks into early Thursday.

She says the volume of water coming out of the Nooksack is similar to the amount seen in 2021 when its outflows caused catastrophic flooding in the Fraser Valley, resulting in billions of dollars in damage.

Abbotsford’s Sumas Prairie under evacuation alert

Shortly before 4 p.m., the City of Abbotsford issued evacuation alerts for approximately 1,000 properties in Sumas Prairie West and Clayburn Village.

“The most potentially impacted properties will receive hand-delivered notices from Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service, Abbotsford Police Department, and others,” the city said in a written statement.

City staff encouraged residents in the affected areas to plan ahead in case they need to evacuate.

The statement continues, saying that the atmospheric river weather event will likely not be as damaging as the 2021 flooding.

Mayor Ross Siemens says that the city and emergency staff are well prepared.

“I want to assure you that we are in a place a much better place than we were in 2020-21,” he said.

“Residents should plan to stay informed by following updates at abbotsford.ca, and if they are in an evacuation area, to prepare a grab-and-go bag,” Abbotsford’s Fire Chief, Eric Peterson, added.

Both say that the local officials are in touch with Greene and the ministry.

The city also announced that Cole Road at the dike, between Wellsline Road and Vye Road, will be closed.

Nearby, the Fraser Valley Regional District declared a local state of emergency and issued evacuation orders and alerts for areas near the Chilliwack River.

Ten properties along Wilson Road and Chilliwack Lake Road were ordered to evacuate as of Wednesday afternoon. Another 10 along Chilliwack Lake Road remain under an alert, and residents are asked to prepare to leave on short notice.

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—With files from Jan Schuermann and The Canadian Press