UPDATE: 6:15 a.m Eastbound traffic reopened on the Okanagan Connector about 1 a.m. overnight after a logging truck caught fire on the highway near Brenda Mine Lake Road earlier in the evening. Some Castanet readers reported being stuck in the shutdown for up to eight hours. “There was no communication or notification to the thousands of people who were stuck there, without Telus cell service,” one person told Castanet. “There were many, many children with uncertain and worried parents. The travelers really felt abandoned by the authorities.” As of Saturday morning, DriveBC is still warning drivers of delays as only one eastbound lane is open.
??REMINDER #BCHwy97C – continue to expect delays eastbound near Brenda Mine Lake Road. #MerrittBC #Kelowna ?? https://t.co/dYuD93vRdH — DriveBC (@DriveBC) August 20, 2022 UPDATE: 23:40 Eastbound Highway 97C is still closed after a logging truck caught fire around 5pm Friday. DriveBC said they are awaiting an update from their contractor and apologized for the delay. The Okanagan Connector remains without an estimated reopening time and no detour is available.
?? UPDATE 3 – EB #BCHwy97C lanes remain closed at Brenda Mine Lake Road. Crews are currently working to ensure the road is safe for vehicle travel. The next update time is now 3:00 AM. https://t.co/n3zbMlfGSn — DriveBC (@DriveBC) August 20, 2022 UPDATE: 6:45 p.m DriveBC expects the Okanagan Connector to be closed eastbound for several hours, causing long delays. Lanes of Highway 97C remain closed at Brenda Mine Lake Road after a logging truck caught fire around 5pm Friday. There is no estimated downtime and there is no bypass.
??UPDATE 2 – EB #BCHwy97C lanes remain closed at Brenda Mine Lake Road due to vehicle fire. Next update time: 10:30 p.m. Expect significant delays. #MerrittBC ??For more info: https://t.co/n3zbMlfGSn — DriveBC (@DriveBC) August 20, 2022 Photo: Devan ORIGINAL: 5:50 p.m A truck carrying lumber caught fire on the Okanagan Connector early Friday night. DriveBC has confirmed that the eastbound lanes of Highway 97C are closed at Brenda Mine Lake Road due to the fire. There is no estimated downtime and there is no bypass. Photos from the scene show the semi-blocking of the eastbound lane heading towards West Kelowna, with flames coming from its cargo. There are currently no details on what caused the vehicle to catch fire.
UPDATE – EB #BCHwy97C lanes are closed at Brenda Mine Lake Road due to a vehicle fire. Next update expected in 3 hours.#MerrittBC — DriveBC (@DriveBC) August 20, 2022
