The highway closure in effect for most of Saturday was continued into Sunday. As the Ministry of Transport assessed the avalanche risk of a number of stretches of highway to be too high to allow travel at this time.
The highway was closed for almost 24 hours yesterday because of worries about the risk of avalanche just west of Terrace.
"Basically, at about 10 p.m. Wednesday night, the conditions, in particular at '35 miles', 35 miles west of Terrace, just became such that it was too dangerous for traffic to go through there.
"It's a combination of the snow and warming conditions that were taking place over night," said Don Ramsay, area manager for the Ministry of Transportation.
Patrols were conducted to ensure all traffic was off the highway before the gates were closed at both ends. The highway reopened around 5 p.m. yesterday, and two buses full of local athletes headed for the Northern B.C. Winter Games, who had been waiting for a green light, managed to hit the road just in time to still make it to the competition.
"It's quite a procedure to close the gates and do a sweep to ensure there are no motorists trapped in the area. A sweep is conducted from the Prince Rupert end and the Terrace end and the two trucks meet in the middle to ensure there is no traffic and the gates are closed so the zone remains empty," said Ramsay.
At the time of a closure, an avalanche technician began constantly monitoring of the site. Maintenance crews continued to clear the road overnight, however they stayed out of the identified avalanche zone.
Ramsay explained that monitoring by avalanche technicians is largely done based on the weather. They forecast weather conditions and based on computer models and data from an extensive collection of electronic weather sites at high and low levels in the mountains that can predict unstable snowpack conditions.
In addition, the Ministry of Transportation works with CN Rail when monitoring for avalanches.
"CN has the same challenges we have on on the stretches between Terrace and Rupert and we cooperate fully with CN and their patrols," said Ramsay.
During good weather, avalanche technicians will be flown by helicopter into the snowpack areas to dig pits to determine which levels of snow are stable and which are unstable.
"Quite often, when you get into a difficult avalanche weather cycle, helicopters can't fly, so it has to be done remotely through weather stations or direct observations," Ramsay said.
Avalanches and slides have caused fatalities on Highway 16.
Two people lost their lives in a massive mudslide last spring when floods closed many highways in the region. RCMP and searchers had to scour the slide east of Terrace in June after receiving the missing persons report. Using metal detectors, they found the vehicle and the bodies.
The latest advisory was issued at 8 pm Saturday, with no further decisions expected until 6 am on Sunday morning. The stretch of highway between Terrace and Prince Rupert and further eastward has been hit by high winds, heavy snow with blowing and drifting snow in some locations.
A weather situation that makes the possibilities of avalanches more likely with the shifting weather fronts coming in.
The Friday Daily News examined the factors that the Ministry of Transportation looked at last week when they closed the highway, and which they no doubt will once again look at on Sunday morning.
Avalanche fears led ministry to close highway
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, February 08, 2008
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, February 08, 2008
Pages one and three
The highway was closed for almost 24 hours yesterday because of worries about the risk of avalanche just west of Terrace.
"Basically, at about 10 p.m. Wednesday night, the conditions, in particular at '35 miles', 35 miles west of Terrace, just became such that it was too dangerous for traffic to go through there.
"It's a combination of the snow and warming conditions that were taking place over night," said Don Ramsay, area manager for the Ministry of Transportation.
Patrols were conducted to ensure all traffic was off the highway before the gates were closed at both ends. The highway reopened around 5 p.m. yesterday, and two buses full of local athletes headed for the Northern B.C. Winter Games, who had been waiting for a green light, managed to hit the road just in time to still make it to the competition.
"It's quite a procedure to close the gates and do a sweep to ensure there are no motorists trapped in the area. A sweep is conducted from the Prince Rupert end and the Terrace end and the two trucks meet in the middle to ensure there is no traffic and the gates are closed so the zone remains empty," said Ramsay.
At the time of a closure, an avalanche technician began constantly monitoring of the site. Maintenance crews continued to clear the road overnight, however they stayed out of the identified avalanche zone.
Ramsay explained that monitoring by avalanche technicians is largely done based on the weather. They forecast weather conditions and based on computer models and data from an extensive collection of electronic weather sites at high and low levels in the mountains that can predict unstable snowpack conditions.
In addition, the Ministry of Transportation works with CN Rail when monitoring for avalanches.
"CN has the same challenges we have on on the stretches between Terrace and Rupert and we cooperate fully with CN and their patrols," said Ramsay.
During good weather, avalanche technicians will be flown by helicopter into the snowpack areas to dig pits to determine which levels of snow are stable and which are unstable.
"Quite often, when you get into a difficult avalanche weather cycle, helicopters can't fly, so it has to be done remotely through weather stations or direct observations," Ramsay said.
Avalanches and slides have caused fatalities on Highway 16.
Two people lost their lives in a massive mudslide last spring when floods closed many highways in the region. RCMP and searchers had to scour the slide east of Terrace in June after receiving the missing persons report. Using metal detectors, they found the vehicle and the bodies.
Update: Highway 16 between Terrace and Prince Rupert was re-opened to traffic on Sunday afternoon.
No comments:
Post a Comment