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Slope instability has Highway 1 closed west of Chase

Trans-Canada still closed

UPDATE: 4:42 p.m.

It looks like Highway 1 will remain closed just west of Chase until at least Thursday morning.

DriveBC issued an update just after 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday saying the road remains closed in both directions. The agency said the next update is expected at 9 a.m. on Thursday.


UPDATE: 3:04 p.m.

The CAO for the Village of Chase says traffic through community was quite busy for a time, but appears to be tapering off after vehicles backed up by a Highway 1 closure were permitted to detour through the village.

The Trans-Canada Highway was closed in both directions on Wednesday afternoon due to a geotechnical investigation.

"It's lessening a little, but yeah, it was pretty busy for about an hour,” Joni Heinrich said when reached by Castanet Kamloops at about 2:30 p.m.

“It was like Chase’s largest traffic jam ever.”

Heinrich said small vehicles and commercial trucks alike were allowed to use Shuswap Avenue to get around the highway closure, but larger vehicles won’t be permitted through town once the traffic backlog eases.

"Because there were so many backed up waiting, they asked the village if it was OK if they go through the village, because they were already waiting. And we said yes, as long as they will go slowly,” she said.

"A bunch of big logging trucks and whatnot have gone through, but they're not going to be allowed after this backlog is cleared.”

She said flaggers will be set up around the area closed to traffic to redirect drivers.

Highway 97, 97A and 97B have been suggested as detour routes by DriveBC.

Heinrich said she has only been notified the highway has been closed due to a geotechnical issue.

Highway 1 remains closed with no estimated time of reopening.


UPDATE: 2:20 p.m.

Village of Chase officials are warning of delays along Shuswap Avenue as traffic backed up by a recent Trans-Canada Highway closure is permitted to detour through the village.

Highway 1 was closed on Wednesday afternoon due to a geotechnical investigation, according to DriveBC.

In a Facebook post, the village said the highway is closed between the Chase East entrance and the Chase West entrance, with no determined time of reopening. The village warned drivers can expect "major delays."

"Traffic that has been backed up has been permitted to detour through Chase in intervals of 100 vehicles at a time," the post said.

"Please be aware that Shuswap Avenue will be busy for approximately the next hour as backed up traffic moves through."

Travellers can also detour using Highway 97, Highway 97A or Highway 97B.


ORIGINAL: 1:52 p.m.

DriveBC is reporting Highway 1 is closed in both directions near Chase.

The Trans-Canada is closed over a 4.6-kilometre stretch for a geotechnical investigation between Shuswap-Chase Creek Road and Shuswap Avenue.

Travellers can detour via Highway 97, Highway 97A, or Highway 97B to Vernon.



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