Coquihalla Reopens Early Saturday Evening After Sinkhole Repairs

June 7, 2025

No reports of vehicle damage or injury due to Coquihalla sinkhole

What Happened on the Coquihalla Highway?

Highway 5 (Coquihalla South) has reopened in both directions after a sinkhole discovered Thursday led to an emergency closure. Initially affecting only the northbound lanes, the shutdown was expanded to southbound traffic when crews uncovered more extensive subsurface damage beneath the road.

According to DriveBC, the affected area stretched between Exit 202: Portia and Exit 217: Zopkios Brake Check. A highway worker first spotted the sinkhole, which turned out to be “just the tip of the iceberg,” as a larger cavity had formed below the surface.

Coquihalla traffic moving again

How Long Was the Highway Closed?

The road was closed from Thursday through much of Saturday. Repair crews worked day and night to stabilize the damage. By 7:29 PM PDT on Saturday, June 7, the Ministry of Transportation confirmed that both directions had been fully reopened.

How Were Drivers Affected?

The sudden highway closure forced travelers to take lengthy detours via Highway 3 (Hope–Princeton) or Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon—routes that significantly extended travel times.