Rock slide blocking Trans-Canada near Field, B.C., has locals feeling isolated
A rock slide that has blocked the Trans-Canada Highway near Field, B.C., since Monday is making life difficult for people who work in the area.
The highway has been closed in both directions about 16 km west of Field since contractors preparing holes for rock blasting triggered the slide.
It's expected to take until late Thursday afternoon for crews to clear away the roughly 10,000 cubic metres of rock and debris and reopen the roadway.
Everett Cooper, the chef at the Truffle Pig Bistro and Lodge in Field, says he and his staff feel a bit trapped.
"It's hard. The hotel slows right down, this is traditionally our slower time of year," he said.
"Our food delivery service couldn't make it through yesterday, so our food supplies get low and we just deal the best we can."
Two contractors working on site were transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries when the slide happened.
Travellers heading for B.C. are being redirected south on Highway 93 to Radium Hot Springs. They can then head north on Highway 95 to Golden to rejoin the Trans-Canada Highway west of the closure.
For commercial truckers travelling between Alberta and B.C., that's an unwelcome hour-and-a-half to two-hour detour.
"Everything we do is on a schedule. Something like road closures just makes it even worse," said truck driver Dan Bosje. "Going through Radium is not very good for when you're heavy. A lot of hills and stuff for the trucks."
