Heavy rainfall in the Dawson Creek area Thursday and Friday is causing havoc on area highways.
Floodwaters washed out a bridge crossing Fisher Creek, 52 km south of Chetwynd early Saturday.
Drive BC and Dawson Creek RCMP reported that Highway 97 is closed to traffic between Mackenzie and Chetwynd from both directions because of the washout. No detours are available and as of 3:25 p.m. no time estimate was available for when the bridge may reopen.
Approximately 68 km north of Chetwynd Hudson's Hope Bridge is also washed out, blocking Highway 29 between Chetwynd and Hudson's Hope.
Drive B.C. is reporting water pooling on Highway 97 between Chetwynd and Dawson's Creek and on Highway 52 between Dawson's Creek and Tumbler Ridge.
Water pooling on Highway 2 at the B.C.-Alberta border has reduced access to single-lane alternating traffic.
Dawson Creek RCMP are reporting roads closed in the city and in the rural area surrounding Dawson Creek.
According to Environment Canada, the Peace River region and Williston areas of northeast B.C. have received up to 80 mm of rain in some areas and another 45 mm is forecast for the weekend.
"With the heavy rains, we are asking everyone to use extreme caution and keep children and pets away from waterways," Solicitor General Shirley Bond said in a written statement. "In addition to high water flow, there is a lot of debris so it's best to stay off the water until the river levels decrease."
