B.C.’s Transportation Minister says residents who live along the Highway 8 corridor are now able to access their homes.

Rob Fleming says the province has reached a major milestone in the restoration of the highway between Merritt and Spences Bridge. It was damaged after flooding last November washed out 25 sections of road, cutting off access for the roughly 500 residents who were evacuated.

“The highway is now fully reconnected, allowing the last people to be able to get back home,” Fleming said, on NL Newsday. “Having lost nine of 64 kilometres – or partially lost – into the river, we’ve built that now in some form or fashion.”

“Some of it in very good condition, some of it in fairly rudimentary condition but the good news is for those who especially have been waiting to get back to the their homes, they can do that.”

Fleming says this milestone is a result of the massive efforts of crews on the grounds, locals in the area, and staff at the Ministry of Transportation.

“Ten months after those storms that you referenced that did so much damage, I think we’re in a very good place. We wouldn’t be here without the partnerships that we’d forged to get us to where we are today,” he added.

For now, Highway 8 will be local access only for the time-being, but Fleming says the goal is to be able to allow all traffic onto the highway in the coming weeks.

“While there is still much more work to get done to allow regular traffic onto the highway, this is a very significant step for people who live along the corridor,” Fleming said. “We are turning a corner, focusing on building back better; and making sure our highways network is strong, resilient, and reliable for the new climate reality we’re in.”

“We are committed to rebuilding our infrastructure back stronger than before so that it is resilient and will keep people safe from extreme weather events.”