From The Supply Post Archives: The Coquihalla Highway Project

Mar 25, 2021 - 4 years ago

As part of our 50 Years of Publishing Celebration, we are bringing you interesting stories from our archives. This one first appeared in our January 1987 issue.

Coquihalla Highway Project 1987

The Coquihalla Highway Project

Almost forgotten amidst the pomp and circumstance surrounding the grand opening last May of the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt was that this was merely the first of three legs and that work has never stopped.

Phase two, an 80 km stretch from Merritt to Kamloops, climbs from Merritt up the northern slope of the Nicole River Valley to avoid existing ranches in the valley, passes by Lac Le Jeune and meets the Trans Canada Highway near the Afton Mine operation.

Although heavy spring rain slowed, and in some cases stopped earthmoving activity for a time, favorable fall weather has permitted contractors to work well into December. An early spring could see phase two opening before the scheduled fall ‘87 date.

Of the 14 major grade construction contracts awarded, View Construction, Kamloops, led the way with three totalling 18.6 km, more than 23 percent of the total 80 km length. Other contractors include Dawson Construction, Delta Aggregates, Ledcor Construction, Nu-Road Contracting, Argo Industries, Jaemar Construction, Tercon Constructors and Cantex Engineering & Construction.

Activity on phase three to the Okanagan has already begun with initial clearing of several sections. While the bulk of grade construction will commence in the spring, Edgeworth Construction began drilling and blasting this past spring on its 4.2 km section near Peachland, the point at which phase three meets Highway 97.

Due to open in 1989, the 125 km phase three route will take off from Highway 97 just north of Peachland, proceed through the Trepannier Creek Valley to Aspen Grove and on down to Merritt.

In order to facilitate traffic flow phase phase three into the Peachland area, Highway 97 is also getting a facelift with several widening projects already in progress from Penticton to Vernon.

Editor’s Update:
The Coquihalla Highway opened in 1986 and was finally completed in 1989, at a final cost of over $1 billion. The ‘Coq’ operated as a toll highway until 2008, when the toll was removed.

Original story reprinted from The Supply Post, February 1988 issue; update written by Linda Horn.