The Coquihalla: 20 Months Through the Mountains

A 1985 movie about building the first section of the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt. This was the hardest part to build and was constructed much quicker than expected.
This film was created by the government at a time when there was some serious concerns about the project. Ultimately the project went through a serious investigation about the money spent and the quality of the construction.
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[@rlj151]

Dad was one of the bulldozer operators on this project. I still have his "I built the Coquihalla" button.

[@mycarpounds]

As did my Grampa.. thats why im watching this.. :)

[@stevenfidenato4414]

mycarpounds, Same with me,

[@blueman5924]

Cool. I worked on the Kingsvale overpass, and still have a Coquihalla signboard that they put up along the route for when Bill Bennett and his entourage toured along it.

[@drakehound]

@@blueman5924 I was part of that entourage!

[@mudpuppy318]

A young man named Robert Alexander Drake who was employed as a road builder in this area and frequented Kamloops in late 1989, from what we know he had a very short romantic relationship with a young female nurse in Kamloops, any info elaborating on the situation would be appreciated! Thank you

[@mundall1271]

In 2021 a culvert failed during a storm and washed out the Trans Canada highway in the Fraser Canyon - we’ve had months of closed highway and over two years waiting for repair and it’s still a 40 minute delay now two years later.

[@VentureGarageOfficial]

service has gone way down the drain now. even in Alberta, highway projects take years. Took 4+ years just to complete one little overpass for a street on the south side of Edmonton. All these delays are nonsense.

[@Rancid-Jane]

I think regulations are far more onerous now. Causing red tape to slow everything down.

[@davedaveson7211]

No one wants to build for infrastructure, because it doesn't win elections and it's expensive as hell. And there is too much red tape now because of environmental/indigenous concerns.

[@jaredgage5637]

You live in bc a progressive hole what did you expect. High regulation and environmental assesments make everything unaffordable

[@mydogsareneat]

Im so glad this comments on this video. 😂 oh the times, they are a changing.

[@user-xg8yy7yl1d]

Meanwhile in BC nowadays: even small improvements to existing highways take years of government bickering and deadlock to just get to the approval stage

[@booishoois309]

It's because diversity is our strength. No one agrees on anything, and the tax dollars just go into the void.

[@user-xg8yy7yl1d]

@@booishoois309 The socreds also knew how to build things. Say what you will about them in other regards but they could get massive much needed building projects done on schedule and without bankrupting BC. I think BCs next megaproject should be to provide gigabit speed internet to every corner of BC rural and urban alike. It wouldnt even be that "mega" because you could just run the cable along the existing BCHydro power poles which was done with BCTel phone lines. Internet connectivity has been proven an economic necessity and such a "BCNet" would be a massive real investment into BCs economic future.

[@LoBeau53]

Might have to remove a tree or displace a snail. We can’t have that now can we?

[@starship3095]

Back in the days when our countries had dollars AND SENSE!

[@ToyotaStarletP7]

Well, over here in Germany it takes decades to build an airport, and every infrastructure project is stopped because of some rare species found on the site...

[@atdotcom64]

I was living in Lake Louise from 83-86 and made several trips to Vancouver. Then finally via the new highway to go live and work in Vancouver for Expo 86. What a time to be 22!

[@BellaBella-jw9ef]

Loved that time too! It was a great time to be young and in BC. Would take the Grayhound to visit my sister who was waitressing in Manning Park.

[@es3359]

Amazing to think this and the Skytrain system were both being built at the same time. Puts our current project deadlines to shame!

[@BCHistory]

Do not forget BC place and the Trade and convention centre also being built by the government

[@ghettobirdish]

They didn’t have safety authorities and no emission bullshit to deal with back then. Men are not men anymore that’s why everything takes forever

[@nimnow8060]

Least ye forget in 09' CPR went Through a Mountain from opposite ends perfectly.

[@hi.moriarty]

I forgot about that!! Watching this video, all I can think is "Why doesn't the government work this way now?" *Goes into a dream-like state of wishful thinking*

[@yubaekkim6468]

A bygone era... would never be possible today. This was amazing.

[@MagicMike_101]

zzZzZzzzzz

[@hi.moriarty]

Impressive! Happy early 40th Birthday (2024) Coq!

[@4knanapapa]

25 years ago we spent 2 weeks in BC on vacation from Michigan, rode ferries up to Prince Rupert, drove inland to Alberta and south ending up on the Coquihalla when heading back to Vancouver, it is pretty impressive, the scenery, wildlife, and people of BC are fantastic, it was a experience of a life time.

[@bobmanp8653]

thanks

[@ianwash8817]

We love u

[@JesusFriedChrist]

Did you enjoy the Icefields Parkway?

[@4knanapapa]

@@JesusFriedChrist Yes, pretty neat driving up that Glacier in a bus.

[@4knanapapa]

@@JesusFriedChrist Peyto Lake was spectacular as was lake Louise, we were there mid June Lake Louise was still partially ice covered, Banff and Jasper both loaded with Caribou walking everywhere, absolutly the best trip ever.

[@tomlarocque4720]

The same guy who wrote the music for this also wrote the music for the beach combers and the littlest hobo :)

[@dilbotmacguillacutty4849]

I was thinking it was 80s TV Theme music that never made it into a show.

[@Greatdome99]

The Coquihalla did two things: it drastically reduced travel time between Vancouver and Kamloops, but it devastated local business and communities along the Trans Canada in the Fraser and Thompson Canyons.

[@DOWNTOWN_AUDIO]

if you were coming from kelowna it used to take 8 hours taking that route. That's a full day of driving, two or three meal stops, snacks and then gas stops every 300km or so back then. So yeah I'll bet it disturbed some businesses, but at the same time, it just makes sense. Today you can go to Vancouver and back, do shit while your there, and still make it back to kelowna just after dark.

[@4knanapapa]

@@DOWNTOWN_AUDIO while in Vancouver I was talking to local resident asked me where we were from, Michigan I told him and our itinerary which was extensive travel throughout the province, he said sounds like amazing trip and added most people in Vancouver would never make the same trip, I didn't think much of it at the time but after our trip I thought how sad that they have this beautiful country and most would never see it.

[@DOWNTOWN_AUDIO]

Yeah, back in the day people had alot less money in BC. BC was actually a poorer province until it was connected. The coquihalla opened the doors to so much trade, I mean now Vancouver gets its diesel and gasoline from Canadian suppliers like alberta. It's trucked in, right over that pass. Same with the other direction, it enables Alberta's and Saskatchewans populations to have access to things like fresh produce that had to be flown to Vancouver. A larger variety of toys and stuff for kids, and access to everything that's made in Vancouver too! Because of the coquihalla, the rest of Canada benefits from that sea port in Vancouver because we can just truck it or train it.

[@FirstLastOne]

@@DOWNTOWN_AUDIO NO WE DON'T get diesel and gasoline from Alberta in Vancouver. Where in the world did you get that false information from? In Metro Vancouver almost all of our gasoline and diesel comes from the very limited local refineries and from WA state.

[@EpicMother249]

As a BC er. That road is beautiful and deadly. They dont call it Highway Thru Hell for no reason. I ended up in a 14 car pile up. And we ruined everybodies day that was hoping to make it off the mountian that evening. The smartest thing I saw was a local who knew a thing or two. Pulled out a sleeping bag from her trunk. Got into her front seat and bundled up for a long winters nap. Make sure if you're hauling thru there in the winter, you're prepared for a 6 hour pitstop. It happens in two shakes of a lambs tail. Love that road in good weather

[@willb6913]

I grew up in Vancouver in the 80's and travelled with my family to the Okanagan every summer, most of that via the Hope-Princeton route which is a beautiful but long drive. As a kid I loved when we would stop at the roadside fresh fruit stands on the way up the old route, but I think everyone in the car was happy to save 3 hours on the drive once the Coquihalla was completed. I still make the drive through the Rockies to Vancouver annually and even though I want to take the old road there's a point when you don't want to be in the car anymore and the Coquihalla makes a one day trip from Calgary totally manageable. After 30 years this road is still very comfortable to drive and even for someone like me who likes to go maybe a little way too fast it feels very safe. The people who worked on this highway should be proud of their work.

[@BCHistory]

The highway was desperately needed because #1 and #3 were well beyond capacity. Kilometers long traffic jams had become normal

[@sigmanfloyd7179]

~ Try driving it in the winter!

[@KrisCorby-iv8dg]

I remember the Hope-Princeton, & the old Kicking Horse Pass! You're right! It was a beauty trip not everyone is anxious to spend those extra hours in the car! ..👍🇨🇦

[@dougbarton4668]

If you told those workers, how fast one storm, would destroy that highway, they’d think you were crazy.

[@mvd4436]

One in how many years?

[@hi.moriarty]

@@mvd4436 Coq's coming up to her 40th birthday in 2024.

[@thatguyisbackagain]

Why asphalt instead of Portland concrete?

[@marvinm.messier1120]

This is the sort of stuff I love KZbin for.

[@DeathrashWhiplash]

Love the colors in the fall around the snowshed. Lots of beautiful reds and yellows.

[@deanb4799]

Remember the "I drove the Coquihalla" bumper stickers? Cool Video!

[@SHDW-nf2ki]

Literally the most terrifying fucking drive I've ever been on the Coquihalla scares the daylights out of me. The weather can change so damn quickly up there its unreal.

[@BCHistory]

There are many worse highways to drive in the interior. Hwy 12 between Lillooet and Lytton has a one lane section on the edge of a steep cliff and it goes around the corner. 20 years ago there was not even a guard rail

[@davidlinge4794]

@@BCHistory We drove that hwy 12 back in 1976 going to Pavillion lake. I know the 1 lane part with the cliff well. We were driving a 1964 Rambler Classic that was on it's last legs. A real nail-biter!

[@adamrigby7409]

Back when Canada got things done now we’re a shell of our former self 😮

[@Crewsy]

Things in general didn’t get done any faster but the deadline of the opening of Expo ‘86 definitely sped things up. As mentioned at the beginning of the video the plan for a new highway was started in the 70’s.

[@Tormentality]

Canada legalized the weed youre smokin

[@Tormentality]

@@malcontender6319 You, like, prefer a lot of governmental oversight? you some kind of communist? lol

[@trickolas78]

LMAO. this freeway was very poorly designed and built, which is typical of Canadian infrastructure

[@Tormentality]

@@trickolas78 Name one country with better infrastructure... or don't respond because you can't. LoL, weirdest trolls show up in the wackest places. Where the fuck DID you COME from anyway? and how'd you get so POOR yet so cocky?? (I understand)

[@cclemoyne4033]

I live in Montreal and there is a street called Pie IX, it's 10km long and has been under construction for more than 4 decades, closer to 5 now. Maybe we could learn something here in your great informative video. Thank you

[@BCHistory]

Oh wow!

[@Civilianmusic]

Another fact to put Quebec and BC in perspective. The Olympic stadium in Montreal cost over $1 billion dollars in the early 70's and BC Place cost $100 million, 10 years later in the mid 80's. The Montreal stadium cost was mostly due to corruption

[@cclemoyne4033]

Don't I know it@@Civilianmusic

[@tytri6784]

Wow! The whole coquihalla was build for less @ $955 million!

[@loganmtb5376]

In winter this shit is terrifying

[@uvdpuqhcpenfyalf]

"Done once, done right" sounds different in November 2021.

[@tonydamiani7353]

Nowadays in BC it takes 20 months to get a stop sign replaced

[@servicarrider]

One roadbuilder is worth one hundred politicians.

[@SilverBullet93GT]

*construction work intensifies*

[@dusterman40]

TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY between Kamloops and Alberta needs to be redone exactly like this to live up to its name. It is a FEDERAL highway!!!

[@fjfell5979]

Federal yes but it is in the west and therefore not on Ottawa's radar.

[@anapollo3671]

it would be too destructive to expand the canyon section that was replaced for the most part by the coquihalla

[@dougberry1011]

Ana Pollo nothing to do with the Fraser canyon. It’s from Kamloops to Alberta. A lot has been done but still a lot of 2 lane road and freight truck traffic is unbelievable now in that corridor.

[@anapollo3671]

Doug Berry ah, my husband made a comment with my account... again... haha I let him know.

[@user-xg8yy7yl1d]

Interestingly enough it's not "technically" a federal highway as in its not federal jurisdiction not the way the US interstates are (and indeed there will never be a truly federal highway in peacetime because of the separation of powers in the constitution) it was just an interprovincial agreement that each province would build said highway to link up with eachothers sections and receive federal funding assistance to do so During part of the WAC Bennett administration during negotiations over the Columbia river treaty where the federal government was initially trying to overstep its constitutional jurisdiction and negotiate selling a provincial resource to the Americans without our input highway 1 was given regular BC highway shield markers and apparently some still exist (there's still a policy of not replacing road signs with updated ones unless the information they convey is now incorrect or they're too worn out to read)

[@trevorcanham1493]

What a human engeeniring feat for its time and to build that fast still blows my mind to this day i was 12 yrs old first time i went on that highway and now im 50 it still amazes me

[@Marcel-fo2cb]

What a great movie,

[@marvinm.messier1120]

It's a beautiful drive back and forth. I really admire the architects, engineers and people who made this happen - truly an accomplishment through that mountain range. Modern day ancient pyramid.

[@dirttdude]

It was built by white people, buddy... its one of the most racist highways ever constructed in the history of the galaxy.

[@marvinm.messier1120]

@@dirttdude haha

[@sigmanfloyd7179]

~ Are you serious? This has to be the worst designed highway in Canada if not North America. You obviously haven't driven it between October and April. Close to deadly! One night driving south from Kamloops in early December 2010, I couldn't see anything! The only way I stayed on the road was the neverending rumble strip on the right side of the road. 19 km per hour(12mph)! They need way more snow sheds on this route and a lessor grade.

[@ronberman8947]

12 years later, we're waiting for the " Eglinton Crosstown " in Toronto to be completed. FYI... Metrolinks has no idea when the opening date is!!

[@baddogs16]

My father worked on the Coquihalla from start to finish, I have pictures from start to finish. He worked for Brentwood Enterprises.

[@nickiewilson9134]

My father and uncle did the B.C.Place Project,they both worked for Johnson Terminal. Then they both hauled Beams from Vancouver, start to finish. Shortly after they both retired,NY uncke got restless and went back to work for the Vancouver Movie Industry. Before he passed his last movie was Insomia, he drove Al Pachino to Long Beach,filmed in my hometown Port Alberni, he lived with Robin Williams and Al,in Alaska for 3 month's, he knew of his problems and only said at the time,he was a genius, charismatic but had some issues. ❤

[@trickolas78]

Not exactly something id be proud of. Your father’s efforts resulted in a poorly build freeway

[@nickiewilson9134]

@@trickolas78 More like the engineer's deal not the worker's.

[@petertuckergoettler5720]

A Lot Of Hardwork And Determination, merci.

[@professordogwood8985]

22:06 concrete rail ties? Damn! 1985 was really ahead of its time!

[@chornii_boumer7324]

I moved from Quebec 5 years ago to Kelowna. It is so thrilling to learn more about BC history.

[@jafo766]

Do you know about all the TREE'$ being cut down in B.C to fuel Englands POWER PLANT'$ ? tell tho$e to$$er'$ to build a few REACTOR'$ EH !

[@wynottgivemore9274]

🙏🙏🙏 prayers for all in Kelowna BC..and the rest that are being affected by the fires🙏🙏🙏

[@wynottgivemore9274]

@@malcontender6319 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏼🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏼

[@nicksmith9]

Safety wasn't always a super big concern back then 😅

[@timmiewillier440]

In the fall of 1985 I hadn't been to bc let alone drive through the majestic and miraculous country, and it continued this way right through 1986 and so I hadn't ever put any thought into how amazing this feat was that was happening in bc. But I continued to live and one day in the year 2023 I was watching KZbin and I saw the documentary about the construction of the cocahola and I wrote about it in the comments section.

[@nickiewilson9134]

My father and uncle did the project for B.C.Place,then hauled Beams for the Coquihalla Highway. It was a long job,my uncle was part owner of the Pilot Car Company too.❤

[@BCHistory]

Any stories to tell?

[@archie_bunker]

Great job Men

[@chuckh.2227]

Could you imagine how much more money and how much longer it would take today

[@mrwaterschoot5617]

and the inflation an political foney baloney and john deere crapper and crack pots.

[@mrwaterschoot5617]

that were the days of dyno mite and builds with true grit in their bellies. no slack it probably was like al can highway or an episode on the road to barrow on the ic e road trucker wit a lady like lisa kelly and lack jessie and a trucker named darrel who could log and drive an ice road. he died in a plane crash and burn.

[@mrwaterschoot5617]

look at the mess the usa interstate systems. leave ytit to the Canada to figure it out. . in the auto industry Detroit shut down to go to windsor canad and south of the us border to make wiring harnesses in mexico . and trillions of computer chips in Taiwan.

[@aidentorgerson3010]

This is the coolest shit I’ve ever seen

[@debrap947]

Thanks, this was great to see! My first drive over the Coq was to Vancouver for Expo '86 and many times since! Just drove on the Connector and Coq last month...so much work is being done fixing the hwy from the November 2021 floods p.s. Slow down people and go the construction speed limit, YES you semi drivers too!!! 🤦🏻‍♀

[@BCHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rikerdavis2843]

What's next? A bore hole through the rocky mountains?

[@chriswest6090]

In march of 1986 while on my way to Van we missed a detour and wound up on the unopened Coquihalla lol , they built it from both directions at the same time and I had to get out about 3am and guide the car around blast rock at one point in the middle of the last stretch of ubfinished gravel . We eventually popped out just north of Hope , waved at a cop who was parked at the barricade on that end and booked it .

[@BCHistory]

I had a similar experience with the connector in 1989. Felt like my Land Cruiser was a Matchbox toy among Tonka toys

[@user-zp7jp1vk2i]

@@BCHistory you guys to? I had bought a copper Plymouth at the Hydro auction and had a hardhat in the back window. At Merritt the road crew waved my INTO the Coq. just before it opened, but the bridge work still had by[asses. Hilarious tour in advance!!

[@99thDimension]

BC at the time was losing population the province was in a economic decline. The provincial government started building big projects with long term payback to the coffers the Toll Booths were taken down in 2008 as a political ploy for votes. (it worked) All these mega projects did bring economic recovery and a population boom eventually.

[@stoveguy2133]

35w bridge in mpls was replaced in 1 year after collapse. We’d still be arguing about design 20 years later with no collapse. And it’d cost 3X more.

[@user-xg8yy7yl1d]

The old white on blue plates. I wish we had "legacy" style vanity plates like California the vanity plate program could use a little bit of revitalization.

I agree with you, I'm tired of looking at the social credit emblems of the party that has been dead for over 40 years

[@user-xg8yy7yl1d]

@ I was talking about also to have a thing where collector plates can be replica plates of what plates looked like when the car was new. For example someone with a 1963 car under the collector plate program can have a plate that looks exactly like the 1963 license plate just with a valid number and a space to put a modern validation sticker. For collector vehicles made after the transition to "reusable" plates they could have a reproduction year sticker that goes on the front license plate (the valid one being on the rear as usual) Those in the vanity plate program could choose to have their plate printed on the different bases that have been used over the years including the blue plate white letter and white plate blue letter. Maybe even have an option to pay extra and have an outright custom picture as well so long as the plate itself is not illegible. I like the flag logo better than Gordon Campbell's yellow sun logo (which looks like the BCLib party emblem) its just more of a nonpartiasn logo being that its just an easier to print version of the flag itself. The actual social credit party emblem was not the flag logo logo. As far as I can tell the BC social credit party emblem was a stylized map of BC within a blue box as can be seen here: searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/f/1fb30890ca67c6576f74af41131ed990fdaef961a5a4122bb035af12609cc6d8/b2d9177b-1672-4b5f-ba49-b049add2a84a-CVA180-7394.jpg

[@shogunshogun]

Thanks for these videos! I have driven many times on the Coquihalla Highway and now I have a better idea on the massive amount of work and management, as well as improving the environment for creatures like fish.

[@xvii8693]

This is awesome. I've always wanted to know the history of the highway. I drive through it every year and always gets me thinking

[@scottadkin541]

Ya same, I drive this every 2 weeks. Always wonder what madlads made this

[@grazynazambeanie5963]

Toll road then the government did something that governments just don't do . Once they deemed the highway had paid for itself they removed the toll

[@alleyoop1234]

They gave me a "I Drove The Coquihalla On Opening Day" bumper sticker, after about a 2 hour wait to get through the toll booth!

[@thatguyisbackagain]

This had to be very challenging for field mechanics to constantly service that big equipment. Let alone changing those huge tires and tracks and hydraulic cylinders and hoses in the field. Day and night.

[@matthewn2559]

Interesting that many of the people in the video were not overweight. I was a boy from Kamloops when this project was underway.

[@mark8544]

Shame, we cannot build jack now, took 5 years to resurface the bridges in Jasper....

[@bouhunter6176]

And now it's taken them longer to fix 3 bridge washouts!!!!

[@substrata3642]

Honestly what a great bit of documentary and history!!

[@trickolas78]

The Expo 86 documentary was far better than this

[@D-FENS_]

We got the "I drove the Coquihalla on opening day" bumper sticker when we went camping

[@Chris-nt9lk]

Back when we got things done. BC has fallen into a red tape nightmare.

[@BCHistory]

I disagree. Look at how fast the repairs were done after November 2021. With enough money and enough workers this can be done. IN 19834 the government put a lot of money behind the project and accelerated it a lot.

[@will7its]

Fund their swiss bank accounts enough and the red tape goes away......

[@Ben942K]

@@BCHistorythat's all it takes. Folks holding the money actually moving the funds towards a project and staying committed to it.

[@twyeoman2338]

​@@BCHistoryI respectfully disagree. Our technology has improved tenfold and yet mega projects are consistently over budget and behind schedule. Case in point, the Trans mountain pipeline. In the 1950's it took less than 3 years to fully complete a 1200+ km stretch of 24 inch steel pipeline with antiquated technology. The reported cost upon completion was 93 million which equates to roughly 1.8 billion at our current dollar value. If you compare that to the current trans mountain pipeline which is a 36 inch steel pipeline employing state of the art technology in its construction, costs are roughly 20 times that of its predecessor and it still is not done after 4 years. The government is throwing money at this project, so it can't be for a lack of funding. There is clearly something wrong with our current ability to deliver these types of mega projects.

[@Tormentality]

you must not live here i guess?

[@salfordladcraigedeane2356]

Excellent movie!!!

[@ryanprosper88]

I took the Coquihalla from Chilliwack to Merritt in January this year, just after the massive snowfall over Christmas. What an unbelievably beautiful drive it was into the mountains. I drove an easy 105 kmh and just snapped quick pictures as i went. The highway was virtually empty except for some trucks and it had 4-6 feet of snowfall on the slopes. A drive i shall never forget

[@trickolas78]

The Coquihalla doesn’t run through Chilliwack. You must have been very drunk that day. Glad you didn’t kill anyone 😣😣😣

[@joesmith323]

wintertime road maintenance is a nightmare

[@joefixit7666]

Wow, real men doing real work

[@BCHistory]

Like the construction workers on all the big infrastructure projects in BC today

[@iainbenton9476]

@@BCHistory aint the same, I've worked construction in BC since 04, you're not allowed to work hard anymore, or drive men to. Safeties and glorified children with degrees run job sites.

[@canman5060]

This is one of the most challenging highway to drive during the heavy snowy winter.

[@judgedredd8657]

+Lar M very true, the worst though in my opinion is very heavy rain and fog down in the valley near hope where there are tons of sharp curves

[@Tormentality]

heavy snow is to blame not the road lol

[@Durataur]

It’s really not. I’ve done it when the highway got closed an hour after I got off it and it really wasn’t that bad. Proper tires and a good driver and you’ll have no issues.

[@trickolas78]

@@Durataurwell aren’t you special. Would you like a cookie?

[@Durataur]

@@trickolas78 It’s not even a brag at all. I’m just saying that people make the Coq out to be far worse than it actually is. It’s kinda a joke.

[@tavishannis574]

Anybody asking why it takes longer to repair the coquihalla than to build it..... things are so messed up these days

[@kenparsons6202]

I worked on that project with BC drilling section. Didn't add us in the vidio😢

[@anneliesesteden390]

Thank you! Astounding! I know ,how it feels to drive there!

[@georgebumpus3346]

Fabulous video and great work !!!!! 💪👍

[@BCHistory]

Glad you liked it!

[@mikeperr8701]

Back when we people with brains and determination running our province. Now we have friendly lunatics bent on slowly returning us to the Stone Age.

[@erikletham4944]

Oh ya and the equipment was actually good and didn't constantly break down like the new shit

[@DUDE72341]

I drove the coquihalla! LOL we paid for its construction 5 times over..with tolls

[@Manjot2323]

Thank you I was interested learning about this highway

[@gregoryross.303]

It is a truly amazing situation in Canada regarding the roads here. Canada is a huge country with a tiny popultion (40 million) for its vast area, has managed to build the best roads and highways on Earth, and astoundingly keeps those roads open year round through extremely snowy, freezing winters ! England for example has about twice the population of Canada, and comprises the small area equal to just one or two of Canada's tiny eastern maritime provinces, yet England's roads are narrow, bumpy, potholed, and designed mostly for one car at a time to pass along. It is a phenomenum which should receive far more recognition than it does. HOW CAN SUCH A SMALL POPULATION IN SUCH A VAST COUNTRY AS CANADA, BUILD SUCH WIDE, SMOOTH HIGHWAYS, AND...KEEP THEM ALL OPEN ALL YEAR THROUGH SUCH HARSH SNOWY WINTERS AS CANADA HAS?

[@freddexta3363]

You don't live here, do you

[@gregoryross.303]

born here, live here, have driven everywhere in Canada, from coast to coast. Lived in Alberta for 5 years, where winters are frozen Hells, but they keep the roads open through it all. You have not driven in, say, Great Britain have you. @@freddexta3363

[@stanleyshults6427]

Grt work to all those folks

[@garygill7540]

This was unbelievable accomplishment at the time and now with Three times more cars and trucks it needs to rebuild again

[@59plexi]

amazing....and built without cellphones/internet connection, impressive....

[@BCHistory]

This was almost 40 years ago. A lot has changed in that time

[@spectrumofreality]

Meanwhile it took them over twenty years to four lane 200 K of an existing hwy in Ontario (Hwy 11)

[@tracyfalladown4662]

Amazing!

[@MarcelBal15]

Great video. Now we need to build a bridge to the Sunshine Coast

[@BCHistory]

I can't see that happening

[@MarcelBal15]

@@BCHistory I think it should though. We have a massive housing crisis in our province, and building a bridge there would enable a lot of housing to be built along the Sea to Sky. Too many people are moving to Alberta because it has more affordable housing.

[@spo7k]

We really had it all

[@barryj7478]

What they don't mention is that to get to Hope you have to drive the freeway which was designed and built in the early sixties and to this day has not been expanded or update from Langley west. Still two lanes both sides and a virtual parking lot any time of the day.

[@rs11200]

it’s definitely a painful drive to get to hope, for me i have to come from White Rock so add 16th ave to that for 50 mins which is very painful

[@BCHistory]

West of Langley it is now three and four lanes per direction these days

[@BCHistory]

I often have to.drive from the Island to the Okanagan and the section from th Tsawwassen ferry terminal to Abbotsford sucks these days. I hate it

[@barryj7478]

@@BCHistory My bad, I meant to say East.

[@yakbreeder]

4:11 all the woodland critters were like "what the hell was that?"

[@NoName-jg3vz]

cop stopped me doing 190 kmh in a camaro when it just opened - he did see my point and knocked the ticket back - LOL

[@bwproductionstv5088]

Highway 1 kamloops to ab needs to be fully twinned

[@user-xg8yy7yl1d]

The problem is it benefits Albertans way more than us. There are so many improvements to be made to our internal highways with that money instead. Indeed as they say "subsidize what you want more of" and I don't think anyone in the interior wants more red plates on the road. The flip side is though if you had some highway patrol out there giving out tickets for left lane hogging and tailgating with the increased number of Albertans on the road the highway would pay for itself in 6 months

[@troubleve6trb145]

Actually it would benefit the entire country, or did you forget about what is east of Alberta?

[@user-xg8yy7yl1d]

@@troubleve6trb145 More "benefit" to the "rest of the country" off the back of the British Columbia treasury. Those other provinces can chip in the funding then because from my perspective using money that could be used to help people more locally on shaving a few minutes off a route to the see for outsider benefit isnt worth it especially with all the increased debt everyone is under because of this year. Sad truth is the interior really doesnt make much money off of the goods that pass through it from the easterners to the Pacific it would likely be a net cost to us

[@troubleve6trb145]

@@user-xg8yy7yl1d so I guess the dockworkers, transport drivers and restaurant employees where the transport drivers plus others eat don’t benefit in anyway. Not to mention improved access for the interior residents along the route to the lower mainland would have no benefit for BC.

[@user-xg8yy7yl1d]

@@troubleve6trb145 I think there are a few more urgent things that could be done For example I think there needs to be a Golden-Valemount connection. I discovered the need for it when I was planning a trip to Hudsons Hope to see the Bennett dam (which I havent done yet because of covid) and its a GLARINGLY OBVIOUS deficiency in our highway system. Currently if you want to get from southeastern BC to northeastern BC you have to go all the way around through Kamloops which adds an entire day to the trip. It wouldnt even be that long of a road to build you just have to push a road between highway 23 at Mica Creek to highway 5 at Blue River. Two BC towns would massively benefit as well as thousands of British Columbians would have improved access to other parts of BC. I guess what im saying is we need to improve travel within BC before we focus on travel to the border

[@longjohn77]

I remember when it first opened. I was 9 and thought the "I drove the Coquihalla" bumper sticker they gave when you paid your toll was pretty cool.

[@enigmalfidelity]

LOL These tourist comments are cute and funny. I drove the coq every day for 9 years. It's a disaster. Endless repairs, accidents everywhere, the toll was supposed to be removed once it paid the cost of the coquihalla off. Yeah... That was a lie. Every year, endless km's of the coq are repaired. Perhaps they could try using proper aggregate for underneath, and quality material for the roadway, instead of accepting the lowest bidder EVERY TIME! Lets discuss the Merritt Turnoff. Single lane road, with a single lane turnoff like you'd see in a small town to turn in to the liquor store. NOT a turnoff needed for multiple semi's lined up, multiple passenger vehicles, all backed up for half a km because they gotta wait for LOCAL TRAFFIC to slow so they can take the "left". Soo if you want to go from the connector to the coquihalla, you gotta navigate the WORST set of off and on "ramps" ever conceived.

[@michaelwyckoff7593]

I love this name the Coquihalla

[@timcampbell3857]

That river is full of gold, I would have panned every time I was able

[@iainbenton9476]

really? spent a week camping on the coldwater this summer, never even pulled the pan out of the truck, too busy exploring the flood damage

[@grazynazambeanie5963]

Had to get it done in time for Expo 86 , Skytrain was being built snd I think B.C.Place stadium was happening then too

[@TinShackVideos]

I like the happy music

[@zeke5491]

Everyone working,not 2 guys working while 10 guys watch

[@marksavage1744]

Somebody has to hold up those unused shovels!

[@ColinBunston]

Amazing what they accomplished in the 80s. Now on TCH it takes 3-4 years to upgrade 2km. Doesn't feel like progress. Finishing 4 laning to AB from Kamloops can't happen soon enough.

[@bigwrm44]

Now i set my cruise to 160kmh and enjoy my drive. Well done

[@BCHistory]

Have fun!

[@freddexta3363]

From back in the days when Canadians were still builders, movers and shakers. I miss those days...

[@BCHistory]

BC has huge amounts of large capital projects going on at the moment, enough that worker shortages are serious problem. Site C, Kitimat LNG, Skytrain, several pipelines, and large numbers of housing/retail/commercial developments are currently underway. BC is building a lot. Look up the provincial Major Projects Inventory

[@MrGittz]

I swear to god these “Back in the day” comments have no idea what they are talking about. Every generation says this about the next, “back in my day”

[@pm6613]

One of the most unsettling, stressful drives I've done. I will keep driving the longer and scenic Fraser and Thompson rivers highways instead.

[@BCHistory]

My years living in Lillooet showed me the least dependable route was the Canyon. In the winter Boston Bar motels often got my business because there was no way forward

[@waynedunne4507]

Amazing achievement.

[@Rancid-Jane]

So amazing they did that in less than two years.

[@BCHistory]

It was only the first phase, there were two more phases. Also, the project had started earlier but was being done VERY slowly

[@Rancid-Jane]

@@BCHistory Oh. The blurb said 20 months. I misunderstood.

[@booishoois309]

It's a deathtrap in winter. But so fun to drive in summer! I want to move to the Interior!

[@kerrryschultz2904]

This is typical big government bragging with no brains and understanding of the true long term repurcussions and costs. If they would have taken 1/4 of the cost to build the coqihalla and put it into the canyon route such as a tunnel thru jack ass mountain and improved certain other area along the fraser canyon not only would they have a highway with much lower winter maintenance cost due to much reduced snowfall amounts the heavy truck traffic would not be stuck on a hillside such as the "smasher" because of poor maintenance and too steep a grade for reliable winter driving. I know because I drove super b over both of those routes and the canyon in winter usually didn't let you down not the way the coq. could and would because it wasn.t plowed. By law they don't have to plow the grades until there is over an 1 1/2 of snow which is a death kneel for truck traffic and then requiring chaining up and that is not always 100 percent effective on certain truck configerations such as two empty trailer and still not enough traction to climb the smasher with chains.

[@Lauren-vd4qe]

so true; its a horror show in winter

[@CanuckTony]

Sure wish the Massey tunnel would get replaced any year now….

[@BCHistory]

It needed replacing in the 80s

[@WSTLNZ]

And yet? Look at it now, a snow bound icy corridor in winter, at best described as a MAYBE route, where getting through isn't a guarantee, but simply a "hope-we-get-there-unscathed" faster route, than others which may be lessor gradients, but also less well maintained or serviced. What a real pity, that NONE of those waterways in there were harnessed for at least a Hydro Generating Scheme, to provide innovative anti-icing pads underneath those high "highways", avoiding the often costly non-travel "closed" periods, when accidents and poor road conditions closed that route to everyone. But then see, the engineers and planners never foresaw the extremes in both the travelling public (and their nonsensical misuse of snow tires &/or lack of snow chains), by citified folk who did not know how to drive - let alone drive on a wintery icing road.

[@spo7k]

raw

[@trickolas78]

Was it really necessary to film the two men urinating?

[@jeff3388]

Lol now when you want to build a road in bc you have to call in specialists to relocate each ant hill. I’m not even kidding

[@user-xg8yy7yl1d]

They really underestimated the speed limit before it was finished. The fraser canyon is basically 100