Three of the crashes were fatal, and officials say the corridor’s closures are hurting travelers, businesses and farmers with no easy detour.
Between Saturday and Tuesday, four vehicle incidents on the Trans-Canada Highway between Sicamous and Revelstoke killed three people, injured at least six, and triggered more than 15 hours of closures.
Road Safety at Work program director Trace Acres warned that higher summer traffic volumes and speeding make this time of year comparably dangerous on highways, urging drivers to operate responsibly.
Closures disrupt local businesses and rural farmers, as no convenient detour exists; detouring via the Arrow Lakes takes five hours for a typically 50-minute drive between Revelstoke and Sicamous.
Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies MP Mel Arnold plans to write to B.C. Transportation and Transit Minister Mike Farnworth to push for safety assessments, including reviewing speed limits and short-term interventions like dividers.
The B.C. government committed $728 million in its 2023 budget to upgrade Highway 1 between Kamloops and Alberta, though current improvements face logistical challenges in Eagle Pass and lack funding for expansion.