97 North of Mackenzie Junction Could Reopen this Afternoon

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C. –  Crews are working on the avalanche slide that has closed a section of highway 97 north about 70 km north of the Mackenzie junction and they are hopeful  that stretch of roadway will reopen early this afternoon.

An avalanche covered the  stretch of roadway  71 kilometres north of the highway 39 junction late yesterday.  The slide  happened in an area which the experts says is  not  typical for a slide,  and happened when temperatures were in the minus 25 mark which they say is also unusual because  avalanches typically  happen when there is a warming  trend.

Ministry of Transportation avalanche experts say this slide was most likely a combination of a heavy snowpack, and a wind loading event, where significant wind carried snow into the area, depositing it on the slope which then came down.

There are a number of travel advisories in the Peace Region, on highways 29, 49, 52, 52 east, and along a number of locations along highway 97.

The worst of the avalanche activity is in the Kicking Horse Canyon, where   the activity is said to be  the worst in 30 years.  It could be later this week before highway 1 is reopened.

The Ministry of Transportation advises  motorists to check with www.Drivebc.ca  for the latest information .

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