Highway closures report and peoples need for assistance

[I Think]

There’s a large chunk of today’s drivers that have never put chains on let alone seen them before.
Use to see them at box canyon or sowqua chain up trying to convince someone to put them on for them or show them how to do it.
An entrepreneur could setup a booth and make a small fortune on snow days

At the Hwy 80 stretch that I mentioned, there is a company that will put chains on your car & take them off at the other side of the pass, for a fee.

Last time I came through that pass, there were a couple of truckers who had neatly laid out their chains on the road with the plan of driving onto them and hooking them up, which is impossible, or at least almost so. My heart went out to them.
Came very close to stopping & telling them how to do it, but can no longer lift a full set of doubles the way a trucker needs to.

[seewood]

Last time I came through that pass, there were a couple of truckers who had neatly laid out their chains on the road with the plan of driving onto them and hooking them up, which is impossible, or at least almost so. My heart went out to them.
Came very close to stopping & telling them how to do it, but can no longer lift a full set of doubles the way a trucker needs to.

I ran into the same thing on the Coq a number of years ago. I was stuck behind a spun out truck that was now putting on chains when another semi came alongside and promptly started to spin blocking both lanes.
The fellow, from Jamaica I suspect, pulled out the shiniest chains I've ever seen and promptly laid them out in front of his drivers thinking he'll just drive onto them. Remember he was stopped as the tires were spinning trying to go forward. I got out of my car and told him to lay the chains behind the drivers and back onto them. I'll spot for you. Did that but once he found out I was not a "trucker" he gave me short shrift. Truck in front of me completed his chaining up and had moved ahead just enough I could squeeze by. Had the greatest drive back to the Okanagan as there was no traffic in front of me.
A previous post mentioned perhaps have the CVSE crew pull trucks aside and have them chain up prior to getting stuck.

[I Think]

The only way I know how to hang chains on a semi, is to find the crosslink closest to the center, then grab crosslinks either side of center and drape/throw the chains over the tires, pull them around (be kinda rough with them) so that the clasps or hooks are right at the bottom of the tires, you gotta lay down to connect the inners then hook up the outside. Never timed m'self but I will wager it takes less than 2mins per wheel, single or double after you have done it 10 times.

[Babba_not_Gump]

Quite a number of years ago me and a buddy were driving back from a roadtrip in California in January.

Somewhere north of Redding where I5 starts to climb there was a roadblock.
Highways people were telling everyone that in order to proceed chains had to be mounted beyond that point. Yeah, it was snowing.
Of course we had snow tires on but that didn't make any difference to them so we bought a pair of chains from one of the number of vendors there. As well there were people charging to install the chains. We installed our own.

So off we went. Of course with chains on we couldn't go very fast but a few miles up the highway we stopped and took the chains off and then were able to comfortably drive the posted speed.

A short time later a CHP car passed us going the other way and must have seen how fast we were going so he whipped around and came after us.
Sure enough we got a ticket (which we have never paid), but before leaving the cop told us that if we had speeded up just a little we would have crossed into Oregon and been safe from him.
We got a laugh out of that.

One of the many memories of that trip.

[Babba_not_Gump]

The Coq is opening for essential traffic only, including buses on Monday, December 20, 2021.
According to this site
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Coquihallaroadreports/
** HIGHWAY UPDATE **

Coquihalla Highway will re-open to COMMERCIAL Vehicles / Bus Transportation Services ONLY December 20th (Time TBA).

Highway 3 Essential travel restriction to be REMOVED on Tuesday December 21st.

Highway 99 Essential Travel Restrictions to be REMOVED Tuesday -- Weight Restrictions to Remain.

Speeds On Hwy 5 will be significantly reduced, Single Lane/Alternating Traffic in certain areas.
Hwy 5: Limited Washrooms will be available, no Full Service stops available.
NO Non-Commercial/Non-Approved vehicles will be permitted on Hwy 5.

That's great.

[seewood]

Highway 3 Essential travel restriction to be REMOVED on Tuesday December 21st.

Having to have a discussion here at home as we were planning in heading to Van for a couple of days via the US on Friday. The fact the better half has spent 20+ hours wrapping prezzies has us concerned with border guards and any desire to unwrap them when we cross into Canada.
Or wait until Tues. and just drive down the Hope Princeton.

The fact hwy 3 will now be everyone welcome, Hope MJB at Big White-out will be a little happier....
Wonder if he'll pop off about his skier traffic not allowed on the Coq ?

[I Think]

Great that opening the Coq will unload the Hope Princeton Hwy. Hope they are doing chain checks below the Snowshed Hill.
Have heard that Princeton, with problems of its own has been inundated by traffic, so hopefully this will be mitigated.

[pentona]

Great that opening the Coq will unload the Hope Princeton Hwy. Hope they are doing chain checks below the Snowshed Hill.
Have heard that Princeton, with problems of its own has been inundated by traffic, so hopefully this will be mitigated.

It will and it won't. On the 21st, everyone and their dog will be able to travel freely over Highway 3 and many many people are not used to driving that route (that usually went via the Coke). I bet there will be accident after accident and closures because of speeding and dangerous driving and weather. If it gets closed, there will be no way to drive a car to and from the Interior because the Coke will only be allowing trucks.

I wonder if truckers will be given any choice to take either highway? For instance a truck heading to Osoyoos and points East on the Crowsnest is not going to want to use the Coke.

Note: and Horgan is now strongly suggesting (not mandating) that people NOT travel over the holidays, even in BC. Will people listen? Not likely and we will all pay the price with further lockdowns soon in the New Year.

[Babba_not_Gump]

Great that opening the Coq will unload the Hope Princeton Hwy. Hope they are doing chain checks below the Snowshed Hill.
Have heard that Princeton, with problems of its own has been inundated by traffic, so hopefully this will be mitigated.

It will and it won't. On the 21st, everyone and their dog will be able to travel freely over Highway 3 and many many people are not used to driving that route (that usually went via the Coke). I bet there will be accident after accident and closures because of speeding and dangerous driving and weather. If it gets closed, there will be no way to drive a car to and from the Interior because the Coke will only be allowing trucks.

I wonder if truckers will be given any choice to take either highway? For instance a truck heading to Osoyoos and points East on the Crowsnest is not going to want to use the Coke.

Note: and Horgan is now strongly suggesting (not mandating) that people NOT travel over the holidays, even in BC. Will people listen? Not likely and we will all pay the price with further lockdowns soon in the New Year.

When Hwy 3 opens to nonessential traffic it will be a gong show.
I won't go near that highway in the winter, and worse yet, it would mean me taking 5A to get to Princeton.

And will people listen? Not enough of them.

[Urban Cowboy]

It will and it won't. On the 21st, everyone and their dog will be able to travel freely over Highway 3 and many many people are not used to driving that route (that usually went via the Coke). I bet there will be accident after accident and closures because of speeding and dangerous driving and weather. If it gets closed, there will be no way to drive a car to and from the Interior because the Coke will only be allowing trucks.

I wonder if truckers will be given any choice to take either highway? For instance a truck heading to Osoyoos and points East on the Crowsnest is not going to want to use the Coke.

Note: and Horgan is now strongly suggesting (not mandating) that people NOT travel over the holidays, even in BC. Will people listen? Not likely and we will all pay the price with further lockdowns soon in the New Year.

When Hwy 3 opens to nonessential traffic it will be a gong show.
I won't go near that highway in the winter, and worse yet, it would mean me taking 5A to get to Princeton.

And will people listen? Not enough of them.

Not only won't they listen, but you can bet the majority that decide to travel despite being asked not to, will be of the variety that hits the road with no survival gear, worn all season tires, no emergency food or water, and dressed in shorts and a T-shirt wearing gators. Then after they crash they'll be online blaming the road crews for their misfortune.

[pentona]

Not only won't they listen, but you can bet the majority that decide to travel despite being asked not to, will be of the variety that hits the road with no survival gear, worn all season tires, no emergency food or water, and dressed in shorts and a T-shirt wearing gators. Then after they crash they'll be online blaming the road crews for their misfortune.

I agree; and there will be even MORE accidents over the Hope-Princeton once all traffic is allowed on it; more closures that ever before. People should just stay the you know what home.

[Queen K]

Not to mention huge storms coming in just at opening. https://www.castanet.net/edition/news-s ... htm#354885
Still trying to picture a t-shirt wearing a gator though

[I Think]

Many years ago while teaching the daughter to drive, on a snowy Vancouver Saturday morning, took her to a large empty parking lot & had her practice spin correction, over braking and over accelerating, she learned while having fun that being a lead foot is not the way to deal with slippery.

[Queen K]

You did the right thing and the right way I Think!

And lookee, the Coq is opened up just in time for the next major storm moving in.

https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/355121 ... B-C#355121

[I Think]

First speeding ticket for a truck on the Coq was issued within a couple of hours of the opening, fine was close to $200, should have been $2,000.