Update: 4:58 p.m.
After being closed for an entire school week, Fraser-Cascade District 78 has announced school will reopen on Monday, Nov. 22 except for Boston Bar Elementary Secondary School, which will continue remote learning.
Highway 1 is open from Chilliwack to Hope for essential travel only, as is Highway 7 from Agassiz to Hope. Highway 7 west of Agassiz remains accessible to regular traffic.
SD78 advises families to carpool if possible. Fuel restrictions remain in effect for the region, meaning only buses and maintenance vehicles will have unlimited access to fuel. Allow for extra time as many areas affected by flooding will still be congested.
All buses are running their regular routes. SD78 will monitor ongoing conditions.
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Update: 3:35 p.m.
DriveBC reports Highway 7 west of Agassiz is down to single-lane alternating traffic around Harrison Bay Road due to a traffic incident. The remainder of Highway 7 west of Agassiz is open for regular two-way travel. Drive to conditions and use caution.
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As a section of Highway 1 opens to essential traffic, travel on the Lougheed Highway also remains controlled as road crews work around the clock to restore normal travel after last week’s flooding.
As of 7 p.m. Saturday, DriveBC confirmed Highway 1 is open to essential traffic only in both directions between exits 135 and 171 (Old Hope-Princeton Highway, Hope to east of Chilliwack). Expect delays due to congestion.
#BCHwy1 is open to ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY from #Popkum to #HopeBC from previous mudslide. Single lane traffic in both directions. Please use caution. The road remains CLOSED from #Abbotsford to #Chilliwack. https://t.co/XYJsGgiqo0
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) November 21, 2021
Highway 7 west of Agassiz (heading into Harrison Mills/Mount Woodside) is open for regular, two-way travel. As rain is expected throughout this week, drivers are advised to drive to conditions and watch for crews.
RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Ground zero shows flooding of Hwy. 1 in the Fraser Valley
Highway 7 between Agassiz and Hope is restricted to essential travel only. There are checkpoints in place between the intersections of Highway 7 and 9 in Agassiz and Highways 7 and 1 in Hope, and travel restrictions are being enforced.
The Ministry of Transportation states essential travel includes:
- Transporting essential goods and supplies (fuel, food, water, etc.)
- Transporting livestock or agricultural products
- Returning to a farm to care for animals
- Responding to search and rescue and other emergency operations
- Urgent medical treatments
- Transporting essential personnel
- Highway repair and maintenance
- Returning to your principal home
- Assisting vulnerable or at-risk people
- Exercising an Indigenous or treaty right
At this time, don’t travel on restricted roadways for:
- Vacation and tourism
- Visiting family or friends for social reasons
- Recreational activities
- Casual shopping
The District of Kent and Village of Harrison Hot Springs remain under states of local emergency. As of Friday morning, there are no further restrictions in either Harrison or the District of Kent on non-essential water usage.
The Village of Harrison Hot Springs announced the Miami River Greenway is closed due to high water levels, and East Sector Lands will remain closed until further notice.
The 6500 block of Rockwell Drive in the Harrison Hot Springs area remains under Any residents from the evacuated area of Rockwell Drive that needs accommodations through emergency support services are asked to register at ess.gov.bc.ca or email missioness@mission.ca.
Any questions concerning evacuation can be directed to eoc@kentbc.ca.
Stay connected with The Observer for the latest local flooding information.
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