Avalanche closes 4th B.C. highway

A truck driver was rescued after a massive avalanche swept across a B.C. highway northeast of Prince George, makingit the fourth highway closed because of avalanches across the province on Monday.

Highway 97 between Mackenzie and Chetwyndin the Peace River Districtwill likely remained closed for several days while crews clear away thequarter-kilometre long, 10-metre-deep avalanche, RCMP told CBC News on Monday.

One tractor-trailer was caught in the slide, but the driver was safely rescued without injuries. Crews werestill searching the site at noon to determine if any other vehicles were involved.

Three other B.C. highways remained closed Monday because of avalanche danger, including one of the main routes in and out of Metro Vancouver.

The Coquihalla, also known as Highway 5, between Hope and Merritt wasclosed since Thursday morning when an avalanche first slid onto the roadway. One car was hit, but nobody was injured by the slide.

Poor weather conditions would have to change before the road is open again, said B.C. Minister of Transportation Kevin Falcon.

"It is just too risky The snow is very unstable up above the highways. We are having considerable avalanche activity," Falcon told CBC News Monday morning.

Helicopters were able to trigger some avalanches but were grounded Sunday because of poor visibility, the minister said.

"Until we get clearing in the weather that allows our crew to get up there and do some explosive drops, which will clear and reduce the avalanche risk to the travelling public, we cannot allow the public to go through there," said Falcon.

Truckers forced to use 2-lane, Fraser Canyon route

Meanwhile, truck drivers are getting antsy with the continued closure of the Coquihalla, the main route through the mountains for those heading east from Metro Vancouver.

BC Trucking Association president Paul Landry says he can't remember such a long closure of the Coquihalla and thattruckers are being forced to take a much older, two-lane route along the Trans-Canada.

"For many carriers, it is very inconvenient and expensive because they're having to use the Fraser Canyon, and by doing so, they're adding time to their trips, as well as the extra cost of fuel and the extra cost of labour," said Landry.

Meanwhile, on the NorthCoast, two other highways remained closed Monday morning because of avalanche danger.

Highway 37A was closed in both directions from Stewart to Meziadin Junction with Highway 37, but the transportation ministry said it expected it would be reopened early Monday afternoon.

The Nisga Highway was also closed in both directions from Greenville to Gingolx (Kincolith) with no official word on when it might reopen.