The Coquihalla between Hope and Merritt will open to essential travel by end of day Monday, Dec. 20.

It will be for commercial vehicles and inter-city buses only, according to Transportation Minster, Rob Fleming, who made the announcement Wednesday afternoon.

“[It] may well be one one of the most remarkable engineering feats in recent memory in the province of British Columbia,” Fleming said, noting the highway was significantly damaged 31 days ago, on Nov. 14.

“The exact time of day [for the opening] will be determined over the next few days as we complete some final pieces of work that are needed for that reopening to get completed, including some paving.”

This December reopening comes a full month earlier the end January opening date Fleming announced last month. On Monday, he hinted the highway could be open this year.

In all, about 20 sites were impacted along the highway with about 130 kilometres of the road needing repairs. Several bridges also collapsed because of flooding and mudslides that hit the province.

“Working around the clock, in very challenging conditions, crews have been quickly completing repair work,” Fleming said. “It is an incredible testament to workers of this province.

“This is a significant milestone for our supply chains that will have economic benefits for all British Columbians who have seen interruptions and indeed for connection to the rest of the country. It won’t be traffic as usual until the permanent repairs can happen, and we’ll have more information about that in the new year.”

Fleming also said the travel restrictions on Highway 3 will be removed 24 hours after the Coquihalla opens, so likely late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Further, he noted that when the Coquihalla opens on Monday, Highway 99 between Pemberton and Lillooet will also be open for non-essential travel.

That said, people are being told to avoid travelling like normal, because of road conditions and rising COVID-19 cases.

‘It won’t be the same highway that people remember,’ MOTI says

When the Coquihalla does open, Paula Cousins with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure says it won’t be the same highway that people remember.

“When open some sections will be open to two lane traffic only with one lane in each direction,” she said. “There will be several speed reductions and crossovers along the route and we anticipate that it will take up to an additional 45 minutes to get through this segment in optimal weather conditions.”

“On the operating side, commercial drivers can expect reduced speed limits along the corridor. It will be 100 km/hr in four lane sections and 60 km/hr in crossover and two lane sections. There will be increased chain up requirements, increased winter maintenance and monitoring, and increased CVSE enforcement.”

Cousins also said there will be no power along that highway so there will be limited lighting and no electric vehicle chargers available. The variable speed system will also not be in service.

There will also be portable toilets along the route as the washrooms will also not be open.

“It’s really been a number of spectacular weeks of recovery reuniting every part of B.C., getting supply chains activated,” Fleming said, last week. “It’s a result of a collaboration with the federal government, the local government and the First Nations government.”

Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon is still on track for a mid-January opening, while Fleming noted there is no estimated opening for Highway 8 between Merritt and Spences Bridge at this time.