Highway 3 was closed Sunday evening, May 4, after a minor rock slide occurred in the same location of a previous slide that occurred on Jnauary 27 this year.
A semi truck fell victim to a single boulder, described as being “half the size of a refrigerator” when the vehicle struck it. Heavy rains and poor visiblity were factors in the accident, which left the semi crippled on the highway overnight.
Argo Maintenance personnel worked through the evening, clearing and monitoring the slide area. By mid morning, the semi had been hauled away and the highway cleared, but Argo personnel were awaiting official word from Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure authorities before reopening the highway.
“There hasn’t been any more material come down since the initial rockfall,” said an Argo maintenance worker at the site Monday morning. “The area has a history, so ministry officials may want to conduct another geotechnical assessment.”
The worker, who wished to remain anonymous, speculated the highway could remain closed for the day if ministry officials decided to conduct further assessments.However, the highway reopened around mid-morning to single lane, alternating traffic while the geotechnical survey was carried out.
Several vehicles, including a couple of semis, sat at the Keremeos bypass turnoff Monday morning in hopeful anticipation of an early reopening.
