Washout closes Highway 99 north of Lillooet
Route closed while officials assess the situation
A washout along a remote section of B.C.'s Highway 99 — prone to landslides — has forced a shut-down of the route, causing a local First Nation to take drastic measures.
Members of the Xaxli'p First Nation say the closure severs a major artery to their territory, and the group has declared a state of emergency.
Mike Lorimer with the Ministry of Transportation says the stretch of roadway between Cache Creek and Lillooet — known as the '10-mile Slide' or the 'Fountain Slide' — has moved about one metre.
The route is closed while officials assess the situation. The ministry will issue its next update on the closure Monday.
Google Maps: Fountain Slide area
Commonly known as <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FountainSlide?src=hash">#FountainSlide</a> area N of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lillooet?src=hash">#Lillooet</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCHwy99?src=hash">#BCHwy99</a> road is closed until further notice. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DriveBC?src=hash">#DriveBC</a> for updates. <a href="https://t.co/VK7CmzszgG">pic.twitter.com/VK7CmzszgG</a>
—@TranBC_CaribooWith files from the Canadian Press