Coquihalla Highway closed again due to hazardous conditions

B.C.'sCoquihalla Highway was reopened in both directions from Hope to Merritt for a time after severe weather and multiple crashes Thursday afternoon, but has since closed again.

The highway's closure shortly before noon effectivelyblocked one of the last remaining routes to Vancouver from the B.C. Interior.

DriveBC said there were a number of vehicle incidents on the highway Thursday morning.

• DriveBC current road conditions

VSA Highway Maintenance the company that maintains the highway said the area was experiencingfreezing rain.

While it reopened around 4 p.m. PT, the conditions were still very hazardous, and by 6 p.m. it was once again closed between Hope and Merritt.

Hwy3, Hwy1 also closed heading to Hope

The usualalternativeroute, Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton, remainsclosed due to the high avalanche risk. Highway 1 is also closed from Yale to Jackass Mountain, north of Hope.

A numberof youth workers from the Lower Mainland wereamong the stranded travellers in Merritt during the earlier closure.

The workers with Youth Unlimited were travelling in a convoy from a conference in West Kelowna, when they were told to go back.

"We were on the highway to Vancouver and they literally just put up the cones as we were leaving Merritt and turned us around," said Mark Koop, the group's executive director.

"We asked them how long the closure would be and they said, 'just pray.'"

Kootenay Pass still closed

The Nicola Valley Evangelical Free Church has offered to let the group stay the night, if necessary.

"We were prepared. We came with pillows and sleeping bags for our retreat, so we're all ready to do it again," said group member Robbie Taylor.

Meanwhile the RCMP'sEast Kootenay Traffic Services is asking motorists to reconsider plans to drive on East Kootenayhighways, as a severe winter storm moves through the area.

The traffic unit says it has attended multiple collisions throughout the day and is advising drivers to stay home.

The Kootenay Pass is currently closed for avalanche control it is expected to reopen between 7and 10p.m. PT.

Drivers can check here for alerts andupdates.