National

B.C. power line cut access to Highway 99 to and from U.S. border for hours

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 25 Jan, 2024 04:59 PM

A power line that fell over Highway 99 in Surrey cut off a key route to and from the U.S. Peace Arch Border Crossing for nearly three hours on Thursday.

BC Hydro, the Crown power utility, says a vehicle crashed into a power pole, bringing the line down across both directions of the highway.

Crews are working to restore an outage affecting 2,741 customers in #SurreyBC due to a motor vehicle accident. Updates will be shared on our website: https://t.co/MOsQ09X4bh pic.twitter.com/FMVUfhG0vi
— BC Hydro (@bchydro) January 25, 2024

Traffic cameras showed long lineups southbound heading toward the border and all vehicles were diverted at King George Boulevard, while northbound traffic was also detoured.

Hydro says the downed line also cut power to about 2,700 customers, but the electricity has also been restored.

The B.C. Transportation Ministry's information site, DriveBC, says the highway reopened in both directions early Thursday afternoon.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Vernon man charged in crash

A 36-year-old Vernon man has been charged after a head-on collision on Highway 97 left two people dead. It happened in the early hours of August 5th near the Vernon Military Camp.

Vernon man charged in crash

Homicide in New Westminster

Homicide detectives have been called in to investigate after a man's body was found inside a home in New Westminster. Police say officers were sent to the home last night to carry out a well-being check.

Homicide in New Westminster

Hot spell add to wildfire woes

The wildfire service is reporting about 375 fires around B.C., with about 11 recorded since midday Sunday and another 11 still ranked as fires of note, meaning they are highly visible or threaten people or property.

Hot spell add to wildfire woes

Power outage for new B.C. ferry forces trip cancellations on first day

The inaugural sailings for a passenger ferry between downtown Vancouver and Nanaimo, B.C., were cancelled Monday because of a power outage. A statement on the Hullo ferry website says the loss of power to the berth and vessels affected the assessments of its systems and the safety and reliability of its operations.

Power outage for new B.C. ferry forces trip cancellations on first day

As B.C. temperatures soar, advocates call for rules to keep rental housing cool

The call comes as a heat wave blankets much of the province, raising memories of the deadly 2021 heat dome event. It isn't expected to get as hot this week, but the advocates say municipalities need to ensure that tenants don't face deadly risks of overheating in their homes.

As B.C. temperatures soar, advocates call for rules to keep rental housing cool

Housing crisis deemed a political threat for Liberals

Experts say the national housing crisis is becoming a political threat for the Liberal government, with voters likely to look elsewhere if drastic action isn't taken soon. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came under heat recently for saying the federal government wasn't primarily responsible for housing, though it can and will help with the crisis.