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42-579: The Nicola Country is roughly synonymous with the basin of the Nicola River , but unlike other similar region-names in BC was not named for the river. Rather, both were named as a result of this region being the territory under the rule of Nicola ( Hwistesmexteqen ), the most prominent and influential of the chiefs of the Nicola people , who like the river and region were named for the chief, i.e. "Nicola's people". Nicola

84-548: A convoy led by Premier Bennett in an open-air convertible that smashed through paper banners strung across the new highway lanes, stopped at the Coquihalla Summit to dedicate a time capsule, and continued to Merritt for further celebrations. The total cost for the highway between Hope and Merritt was approximately $ 848 million. Phase 2, between Merritt and Kamloops, opened in September 1987, re-routing Highway 5, while Phase 3

126-596: A location in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District , Canada is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This First Nations in Canada –related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Nicola River The Nicola River / ˈ n ɪ k oʊ l ə / , originally French Rivière de Nicholas or Rivière de Nicolas , adapted to Nicolas River , Nicola's River in English,

168-582: A speed limit of 120 km/h (75 mph) for most of its length. The Coquihalla approximately traces through the Cascade Mountains the route of the former Kettle Valley Railway , which existed between 1912 and 1958. It is so named because near Hope, it generally follows the Coquihalla River , for about 60 km (37 mi), and uses the Coquihalla Pass . The pass is named Kwʼikwʼiya꞉la in

210-471: A toll plaza constructed at the summit of Coquihalla Summit ; it was designed to accommodate 13 toll booths for 14 lanes of traffic. On May 16, 1986, Phase 1 was officially opened, and Highway 5 was re-routed between Hope and Merritt; its construction required 31 bridges and underpasses and over 3.7 million tonnes (4,100,000 short tons) of gravel. The opening celebrations featured a ceremony in Hope followed by

252-504: Is a four-lane divided highway with several signalized intersections and a speed limit of 80 km/h (50 mph). After leaving the concurrency it immediately crosses the South Thompson River and enters a First Nations Reserve, temporarily leaving Kamloops city limits. A particularly important intersection is the signal lights at Halston Drive, which is one of only two access points to the north half of Kamloops. Highway 5 re-enters

294-664: Is featured predominantly in the reality docuseries Highway Thru Hell , which follows a group of towing companies that operate in the Interior and Highway 5. On November 14, 2021, a major storm in southern British Columbia damaged sections of the Coquihalla Highway and other routes in the area. Over the course of November 14 and 15, 200 millimetres (7.9 in) of rain fell along the Coquihalla route. The heavy rain eventually caused several large washouts at multiple points along

336-464: Is known as the Nicola Country . It drains most of the northern Thompson Plateau , beginning near the very eastern edge of the plateau only 30 kilometres (19 mi) northwest of Kelowna , and flows from there more or less westward to feed Douglas Lake and Nicola Lake , with about 15 kilometres (9 mi) of the river's length between those two lakes. Nicola Lake at 20 kilometres (12 mi) long

378-577: Is known as the Upper Nicola, and is home to the famous Douglas Lake Ranch as well as the people of the valley's namesake, Nicola, an important historic chief in early 19th Century British Columbia. Downstream from Merritt is known as the Lower Nicola, which is also the name just west of Merritt of a locality named for the similarly named Indian Reserve and band at the same location; there is also an Upper Nicola Indian Band at Nicola Lake, among many others in

420-602: Is low compared to the Coquihalla and Kamloops sections of Highway 5. In its whole length there is only one traffic signal, which is in the town of Valemount . Services for drivers are provided in the major towns. Highway 5 follows the North Thompson River north from Kamloops and Heffley Creek for approximately 54 km (34 mi), along a parallel course with the Canadian National Railway 's main line. It passes an important junction for Adams Lake in

462-555: Is one of the major tributaries of the Thompson River in the Canadian province of British Columbia , entering the latter at the town of Spences Bridge . It is named for Nicola (Hwistesmexteqen) the most famous chief of the joint community of Nlaka'pamux and Okanagan bands, founded by his father and today known as the Nicolas , (originally Nicola's people), as well as its basin, which

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504-612: Is the largest in the basin; the Nicola River enters at 3/4 way of its length up from its outlet, 10 kilometres (6 mi) downstream from which is Nicola Valley centre and Coquihalla Highway city of Merritt . From there the river flows 60 kilometres (37 mi) northwest to the Thompson, and is followed on that route by British Columbia Highway 8 and a spur line of the Canadian Pacific Railway . The area upstream from Merritt

546-564: Is the northern section of Highway 5. This section is 314 km (195 mi) long. It is largely a two-lane undivided road, with some rare three- or four-lane sections for passing, although work has been constantly underway (especially in the Heffley Creek–Clearwater section) to create more passing opportunities. The speed limit is 100 km/h (62 mph) for the most part except in towns, where it can drop as low as 50 km/h (31 mph). Traffic volume on this section of highway

588-526: The Fraser Valley Regional District into the Thompson-Nicola Regional District . 61 km (38 mi) and five interchanges north of the former toll plaza. The Coquihalla Highway then enters the city of Merritt , which is accessed by two interchanges, both of which also provide access to Highway 5A , Highway 97C , and Highway 8 . The section of highway, between Merritt and Kamloops, is 72 km (45 mi) long. After exiting Merritt,

630-559: The Halq̓eméylem language used by the Stó꞉lō , which means "stingy container" and refers specifically to a fishing rock near the mouth of what is now known as the Coquihalla River. According to Stó꞉lō oral history, the skw'exweq (water babies, underwater people) who inhabit a pool close to the rock would swim out and pull the salmon off the spears, allowing only certain fisherman to catch

672-808: The Thompson Plateau and also country beyond it to the northeast in the Shuswap Highland and to the north in the Bonaparate Plateau. Located in the rainshadow of the Canadian Cascades and the Lillooet Ranges of the Coast Mountains , the climate of the Nicola Country is dry and, in summers, quite hot. Due to a higher elevation than surrounding basins, it tends to be cooler than Kamloops,

714-528: The '5' designation was moved to designate Princeton -Merritt-Kamloops Highway (present-day Highway 5A ) to north of Kamloops; by 1960, Highway 5 was extended north to Tête Jaune Cache and subsequently paved. In 1970, Highway 5 between Kamloops and Tête Jaune Cache was designated as the South Yellowhead Highway and signed with the Yellowhead Highway shield, while the section south of Kamloops

756-623: The British Columbia government replaced the standard British Columbia Highway 5 shields with Yellowhead Highway 5 shields south of Kamloops, which at the time drew some concern that the Coquihalla Highway would be officially renamed. Effective July 2, 2014, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure increased the speed limit on the Coquihalla Highway from 110 km/h (68 mph) to 120 km/h (75 mph) after conducting an engineering assessment and province-wide speed review. In June 2016,

798-454: The Fraser River, after which it immediately meets Highway 16 in a partial interchange, marking its northern terminus. The current Highway 5 is not the first highway in B.C. to have this designation. From 1941 to 1953, the section of present-day Highway 97 , Highway 97A , and Highway 97B , between Kaleden , just south of Penticton , and Salmon Arm , was formerly Highway 5. In 1953,

840-506: The Okanagan, the Shuswap or the lower Thompson areas. Vegetation in lower elevations tends towards sagebrush and open pine and deciduous, with high-elevation areas thick with coniferous forest. Wildlife is abundant, and the timber rattler is present in the region. 50°05′42″N 120°34′34″W  /  50.095°N 120.576°W  / 50.095; -120.576 This article about

882-558: The Yellowhead Highway system is considered part of the Trans-Canada Highway network, Highway 5 is not represented with a Trans-Canada marker. Regardless, Highway 5 is designated as a core route of Canada's National Highway System . Between Hope and Kamloops , Highway 5 is known as the Coquihalla Highway (colloquially "the Coq", pronounced "coke"). It is a 186-kilometre-long (116 mi) freeway , varying between four and six lanes with

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924-512: The area of Merritt is broad rangeland valleys, with high semi-forested plateau uplands reached by relatively gentle slopes, up to and over 2,400 metres (7,900 ft). The upper basin has a number of large lakes, the largest being Douglas Lake and Nicola Lake, Below Merritt, the valley-bottom of the Lower Nicola is much narrower, but has room enough for a constant meander for most of its length, with lush farmland and deciduous forest, flanked by steep hills rising through sage and dryland forest hills to

966-576: The area. The only major tributary of the Nicola is the Coldwater River , which runs north from Coquihalla Pass to join the Nicola near Merritt. Other more minor tributaries are Spius and Guichon Creeks. Nicola Lake and the Nicola Country, a term which is synonymous with the Nicola Valley, were named secondarily for the river, not directly for Chief Nicola. The terrain of the river's basin northeast and in

1008-411: The broad plateau uplands above. The Nicola, as the Nicola Country is known for short, is known for broad rangeland views and a hot, sunny summer climate, as well as frigid winters due to its overall elevation. Coquihalla Highway Highway 5 is a 543 km (337 mi) north–south route in southern British Columbia , Canada. Highway 5 connects the southern Trans-Canada route ( Highway 1 ) with

1050-500: The city at the Rayleigh community, where it passes two busy at-grade, but not signalized intersections; traffic volumes steadily decrease as it gets farther from the core area of Kamloops. Heffley Creek indicates the northern boundary of Kamloops; the exit to Sun Peaks resort is at the same turnoff. Traffic volumes thin out at that exit, and shortly afterward Highway 5 narrows to a two-lane undivided road. The Southern Yellowhead highway

1092-562: The community of Blue River , a popular heliskiing location. From there it proceeds 109 km (68 mi) farther north through the heart of the Columbia Mountains . It crosses a low divide between the Thompson River and Fraser River drainages, entering the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George . It soon passes through the community of Valemount, where a traffic signal is located. Next it passes Tête Jaune Cache and crosses

1134-482: The first construction contract was issued for a 4.5 km (2.8 mi) section of highway between Nicolum Creek and Peers Creek near Hope; however, work progressed slowly until 1984, when Premier Bill Bennett announced that the project would be fast-tracked so it could be completed to coincide with Expo 86 . To ensure the project was completed on time, more than 10,000 workers were needed, and more than 1,000 pieces of heavy equipment worked non-stop every day during

1176-651: The highway climbs up a long, steep hill toward another high point, the Surrey Lake Summit . It passes through three interchanges along this section. A diamond interchange at Exit 336 provides an important turnoff to Logan Lake on Highway 97D and Lac le Jeune . Shortly after the junction, the highway descends into the city of Kamloops, where it meets Highways 1 and 97 at a trumpet interchange . Highway 5 continues east for 12 km (7.5 mi) concurrently with Highways 1 and 97, through Kamloops. This stretch of road, which carries 97 South and 5 North on

1218-486: The highway, including the destruction of multiple bridges. Initial repair estimates included temporary reopenings consisting of temporary bridges, operational for early 2022, with full repair completed in September 2022. After the washouts, Canadian Forces Cormorant helicopters evacuated stranded motorists on the highway. On December 20, the Coquihalla Highway was reopened to essential traffic, with non-essential traffic being diverted toward Highway 99 . On January 19, 2022,

1260-466: The landmark Great Bear snow shed . The location of the former toll booth is 13 km (8 mi) north of the snow shed, passing through another interchange and the 1,244 m (4,081 ft) Coquihalla Pass. Highway 5 is the only highway in British Columbia to have had tolls ; a typical passenger vehicle toll was $ 10. Now free to drive, at the Coquihalla Lakes junction, the highway crosses from

1302-623: The northern Trans-Canada/Yellowhead route ( Highway 16 ), providing the shortest land connection between Vancouver and Edmonton . Despite the entire route being signed as part of the Yellowhead Highway , the portion of Highway 5 south of Kamloops is also known as the Coquihalla Highway , while the northern portion is known as the Southern Yellowhead Highway . The Coquihalla section was a toll road until 2008. Although

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1344-478: The now-extinct "Stuwix" or Nicola Athapaskans . Other than the several First Nations reserves in the Nicola Country, there are a number of small non-indigenous settlements. The area's only significant and largest town is Merritt . Also of note in the region is the Douglas Lake Ranch , one of the world's largest ranches. Its headquarters is north and east of Merritt at Douglas Lake but whose lands span most of

1386-475: The operation and maintenance of the Coquihalla Highway. In response to strong opposition from the public and numerous businesses in the Interior of British Columbia , the provincial government shelved the move three months later. On September 26, 2008, the provincial government permanently lifted the Coquihalla tolls, effective 1:00 pm that day. Subsequently, the toll station and signs were dismantled. In 2011,

1428-492: The province implemented a variable speed limit corridor around the Coquihalla Summit Park to increase safety during adverse conditions. Signs along the Coquihalla Highway frequently warn drivers to be aware of sudden changes in weather. The highway is particularly dangerous during winter seasons, with extreme snowfall that can exceed more than 10 centimetres (4 in) per hour. While road maintenance strives to keep

1470-544: The roads as clear as possible, it is not unheard of for the highway to shut down, sometimes with travellers forced to stay overnight in their cars. According to ICBC , there were 32 fatal crashes between 2004 and 2013, and an estimated 400–500 accidents occur during the winter seasons. Global News listed the stretch between Merritt and Hope as one of the deadliest highways in BC. DriveBC provides up-to-date reports on Coquihalla Highway conditions, including live webcams in several locations. Owing to its reputation, Highway 5

1512-627: The salmon." Highway 5 begins south at the junction with Crowsnest Highway ( Highway 3 ) at uninhabited Othello , 7 km (4 mi) east of Hope (named after a nearby siding on the Kettle Valley Railway, which used many Shakespearean names). Exit numbers on the Coquihalla are a continuation of those on Highway 1 west of Hope, as it is an extension of the freeway that starts in Horseshoe Bay. 35 km (22 mi) north of Othello, after passing through five interchanges, Highway 5 reaches

1554-509: The same lanes (and vice versa), is the only wrong-way concurrency in British Columbia. This section is mostly an urban freeway with a speed limit of 100 km/h (62 mph). It passes through five interchanges, connecting to the core area of Kamloops, before the concurrency splits and Highway 5 exits off the road to the north in a complex five-way interchange. After separating from Highways 1 and 97, Highway 5 proceeds north for approximately 19 km (12 mi). For most of this section, it

1596-621: The settlement of Louis Creek before entering the town Barriere . North of Barriere, it encounters a junction with Highway 24 in the village of Little Fort . 30 km (19 mi) north of Little Fort, while continuing to follow the North Thompson and the CN Railway, Highway 5 reaches the resort community of Clearwater , where a roundabout provides access to Wells Gray Provincial Park . Highway 5 proceeds northeast for another 107 km (66 mi), passing Vavenby and Avola en route to

1638-419: The summer of 1985. The project was divided into three phases, with Phase 1 being the 115 km (71 mi) section between Hope and Merritt, Phase 2 being the 80 km (50 mi) section between Merritt and Kamloops, and Phase 3 being a 108 km (67 mi) branch between Merritt and Peachland , south of Kelowna . To offset the cost of fast-tracking construction, Phase 1 was made a toll highway, with

1680-594: Was opened in October 1990 and designated as Highway 97C . The three phases have been credited with transforming Merritt into an important transportation hub between the coast and interior, as well as significant growth in both Kamloops and the Okanagan due to improved accessibility. In 2003, Premier Gordon Campbell announced the Liberal government would turn over toll revenue to a private operator, along with responsibility for

1722-455: Was still signed with the standard British Columbia highway shield. In the 1960s, the Merritt Board of Trade began lobbying the B.C. government for a new highway route to Hope, including a vehicle caravan that was staged eight times starting in 1963, over the abandoned Kettle Valley Railway grade, in order draw attention to the potential of this route. Surveying commenced in 1973, and in 1979

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1764-518: Was the son of Pelkamulox, an Okanagan chief who, at the invitation of Kwa'lila, the Secwepemc chief of Kamloops, settled in the valley to escape harassment at his former domicile at the head of Okanagan Lake and founded there the joint community of Okanagans and Nlaka'pamux known as the Nicola people and whose government is the Nicola Tribal Association , and at one time included members of

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