Hwy 37 closed

[Johnny_G1]

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.

[dannydimitt]

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

[sue_t]

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.
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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.

[joe_b_]

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.