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Accidents close Highway 3, Coquihalla Highway as snow takes over

Traffic backed up amid a closure on the Coquihalla Highway.
Traffic backed up amid a closure on the Coquihalla Highway. Global News

The Coquihalla Highway has been closed in both directions between Hope and Merritt, five days after the route was closed following a serious six-vehicle crash.

The accident is currently being assessed; drivers can use detours on Highway 1 or Highway 8. The estimated time of opening for the Coquihalla is midnight.

Meanwhile, there’s also a heavy traffic volume at the Box Canyon chainup area, and delays of longer than 30 minutes are expected.

Highway 3 is closed after an accident near Princeton. The road is closed for 30 kilometres and there’s no detour available, DriveBC said.

There’s currently no estimate for when the highway will be open.

Meanwhile, the Big Bar, Little Fort and McLure ferries are all out of service. For those wishing to take the Big Bar Ferry, there’s an aerial tram available to foot traffic.

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DriveBC had earlier warned the public about intense winter storm conditions that were producing heavy snowfall and limited visibility along the highway.

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Environment Canada had issued a snowfall warning for the Coquihalla between Hope and Merritt, as well as the Okanagan Connector between Merritt and Kelowna.

WATCH: Coquihalla Highway safety issues raised after Sunday’s multi-vehicle crash

Click to play video: 'Coquihalla Highway safety issues raised after Sunday’s multi-vehicle crash'
Coquihalla Highway safety issues raised after Sunday’s multi-vehicle crash

As much as 15 centimetres of snow is expected as a low pressure system with a band of heavy snow hits Southern Interior highway passes.

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The snow is expected to taper off overnight.

READ MORE: Coquihalla Highway reopens after serious multi-vehicle crash

Sunday’s crash on the Coquihalla involved six vehicles and took place near the Othello exit at around 8 p.m.

The crash involved a Greyhound bus, two semi-trailers, two vehicles, and another passenger bus.

Earlier in February, Nicholas Funke was killed after he stopped to help people involved in a multi-vehicle crash close to Larson Hill.

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