Kootenay Pass cellphone coverage demanded

A West Kootenay politician says he's fed up there's still no cellphone coverage over one of the highest mountain highway passes in Canada.

"We're in 2016 and we still don't have it and that to me is unacceptable" said Larry Binks, a director with the Regional District of Central Kootenay.

Binks, who lives in Creston, drives the route frequently and says there are accidents, break downs and other emergencies on the pass all the time, and in winter heavy snow and avalanches frequently close the route entirely.

"When you consider you have the highest commercial vehicle pass used seven days a week that doesn't have cell coverage, I find that distasteful."

Too expensive and unreliable?

Binks says he's tried to convince the phone companies to put cellphone coverage along the roughly 50 kilometre gap in the route, but he's been told it's too expensive.

In addition, Binks said he has also been told cellphone towers would have to rely on batteries and solar power, which are unreliable.

But he notes at the top of the summit there are already several communication towers used by emergency services in the area.

"All of the fire service for all of the Creston Valley is up there powered by solar panels and batteries."

So he plans to bring up the issue with B.C.'s Transportation Minister Todd Stone at the Union of B.C. Municipalities meeting later this month in Victoria.

"I'm going to meet the minister it's that simple and ask the minister what can the ministry do?... Is there any way to connect cell service for the travelling public?" he says.

At 1,775 metres, the winding section of Highway 3, which is known locally as the Salmo/Creston Highway, is the highest year-round highway pass in B.C.

There are two higher passes in Alberta, but only the Icefields Parkway at2088 metres is open year round.

Google Maps: Kootenay Pass, B.C.