Hwy 37 closed 80k north of Dease Lake, flooding everyone advised to use Alaska Hwy untill further notice, more rain on the way making it worse.

Sounds like that would put the problem about where the Cassiar Hwy crosses over the Dease River. The last time we were through there, 2009, I could see where a good section of the road had been replaced with new construction. The river had eroded most of the road away. From about 50 miles north of Dease Lake, the road is close to several rivers, creeks and lakes, running along side some, crossing others, etc. Part of the fun adventures of the north. Real pain, if a traveler gets up to the closed area and has to back track to get to the Alaska Hwy. That would throw in an extra day or two of driving. Hopefully they have the problem signed back at the Kitwanga junction.

The morning news is showing pictures of the area. It doesn't appear to be a stream or river; simply high water built up both sides of the highway, and over the highway. The "fix" seems to be waiting for it to evaporate or soak into the ground.According to http://www.drivebc.ca/, the government site for road conditions:Flooding Highway 37 Both directions - The Hwy is closed in both directions 12 km north of Dease River Bridge because of flooding. (80 km north of Dease Lake). Water levels remain high. No estimated time of opening. Detour not available - alternate route via Alaska Hwy. Next update at 10:00 am May 31st. Updated on Fri May 31 at 6:29 am PDT.----------------------------If one is northbound on the Cassiar, it would take some pondering to decide whether to turn back or wait it out. From Dease Lake it is only a couple of hundred kilometres, maybe a two hour drive, to the Alaska Highway. But to backtrack south on the Cassiar, then east on Hwy 16 to Prince George, then north to Dawson Creek, and finally northward on the Alaska Highway would be about 2,350 km, likely a four day drive.

What a bummer for those well north on 37, might take a long time for the water to go down and be able to get the road put back where it's washed out and reopened . We plan on using this route southbound at the end of July . Regards Danny R Dimitt

And it's shows rain in Dease till Monday..and even then, only no rain for two days. Man..that's a nasty choice. Coming back to Terrace/Rupert/Hazelton has it's good things, but one might just about as well head east on 16 for Prince George and swing north.Ferry from Rupert to Skagway is on June 4th and 11thTo Ketchican 1st,4th and 8th and 9th.Gary Haupt

joe b. wrote:Hopefully they have the problem signed back at the Kitwanga junction.Hopefully as far back as Prince George.Gary Haupt

Hwy 37 closed | Good Sam Community

32 Replies

garyhaupt
Explorer
Jun 02, 2013
37 is open to one lane as of 6:10pm..I'd say...go now. Don't wait.

Gary Haupt
sue_t
Explorer
Jun 01, 2013
Well, Joe, one can stay safe and just look at Google Street View to see the area that is under water now.

The spot looks to be a naturally low marshy area normally so not too surprising that it took on water from the river and flooded across.

I'm wondering about the integrity of the highway once the flood has receded ... I think this is one of the sections that hasn't been upgraded yet.

This from Google Earth Street View, looking northward on the Cassiar:

And this the Satellite view of the marsh when it isn't flooded
joe_b_
Explorer II
Jun 01, 2013
If I owned a 4 wheel drive Class C with a new winch on the front, I would be headed up that way to drive through the flood water and take lots of photos to share on this forum. LOL
:P
sue_t
Explorer
Jun 01, 2013
BC Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure tweeted at about 10:45 a.m. today that the flood waters are expected to recede in 24-48 hours. Hopefully the rain doesn't change that expectation.
garyhaupt
Explorer
Jun 01, 2013
Last BC Drive update shows no changes. Next update at 9am, Sunday. There is no cel phone coverage in the Iskit, Dease Lake, Stewart areas.

If you have a contact to make, E me at hauptgw@gmail.com with the needed number and info and I'll pass it along.

Gary Haupt
garyhaupt
Explorer
Jun 01, 2013
This mornings weather for Dease Lake shows rain showers for today and then sun for the next week..of course, that is all subject to the whims of nature and up there...that can mean most anything. Still...looking much better, weather forcast wise.

Gary Haupt
garyhaupt
Explorer
Jun 01, 2013
Four feet? geeesus...

Gary Haupt
Johnny_G1
Explorer
Jun 01, 2013
Those pics are the same one's from yesterday. When I found it on the news. And I heard today that the water was over 4 ft. deep.
sue_t
Explorer
May 31, 2013
These are pictures of the flooding on the Cassiar, courtesy of the maintenance contractor via Twitter:
SideHillSoup
Explorer
May 31, 2013
The DW is from Stewart, and when she was a kid the only way in or out was by boat or plane there wasn’t a road connecting Stewart to Mazeaden Jct. Later in the 60’s a logging road was built that could be used to access the outside world as my DW called it, which you can still see when driving out from Stewart high up on the mountain across from Bear Glacier. The reason the road was way up there was the Bear glacier was across the valley and that high up the north side of the valley.
Soup

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Hwy 37 closed

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