Trans-Canada closure spillover: Lineups for 2 ferries in B.C.’s Southern Interior

Two ferries in B.C.’s Southern Interior are experiencing lengthy sailing waits because of Thursday’s Trans-Canada Highway closure.

DriveBC is reporting that the two ferries, both located on the Arrow Lakes, south of the highway closure near Revelstoke, are being affected by greater-than-normal traffic volume.

When officials closed the Trans-Canada due to flooding, many motorists began using alternate routes, including Highways 23 and 6, leading to delays at the Upper Arrow Lake and Needles ferries.

Notably, officials reopened the Trans-Canada on Friday morning to single-lane, alternating traffic, but warned of heavy congestion and delays.

The reopening, though, did little to ease ferry traffic woes.

On Friday at noon, DriveBC was reporting delays of three hours or more for the Upper Arrow Lake ferry.

That ferry is located south of Revelstoke on Highway 23, beside Arrow Lakes Provincial Park; it travels from Shelter Bay to Galena Bay.

1:01 Drone video of Trans-Canada Highway flood repair in B.C.

Further south on Lower Arrow Lake is the Needles to Fauquier ferry, on Highway 6. For that ferry, DriveBC was reporting delays in both directions.

On the Needles side, motorists should expect six-hour delays, but just a one-hour delay on the Fauquier side.

For the latest traffic information and updates, visit DriveBC.