The Bridge River Valley Community Association (BRVCA, formally BRVEDS)  has been in contact with the various ministries involved regarding snow removal on the Hurley.   A local contractor from Gold Bridge has been hired to do the clearing this year and is due to start on May 10.  Tom Illidge has cleared the road many times in the past and has a big D8 Cat with ice lugs so things are looking positive for a May long weekend opening this year!  Updates from MOT & MOF officials are below:

Update from Brad Bushill, Area Manager, Ministry of Transportation

I was up yesterday with the Avalanche Technician and we for an initial assessment to see if an attempt can be made this year to open the road.

Currently there we probed 190cm compacted snow at the summit. We estimate that if the weather remains warm we should see around 120cm at the summit tapered out over approx 6kms in about 3 weeks. If this holds true the funding remains in place, there is equipment available, and the avalanche conditions do not prevent us from working, there should be no issues in having the road open for the long weekend in May.

I must stress that there are a lot of factors besides snow depth which need to align for this project to proceed and they are assessed each year on a year to year basis. It should not be assumed that money will be allocated and conditions will be favorable for an opening each year. This year as of now it appears that there is a high probability it will be able to be opened.

Regarding gradings. I can only speak for the summit portion between the steel bridge near Long Goat Rd over the summit. IRL graders are committed to the stabilization dust palliative project until late June / July. Following this they will fit a grade in at some point. Last season it was graded once by IRL and the MOTI section is generally flatter and the surface remains relatively good as noted last year in a joint field visit with Director Demare. The recent logging west of Bralorne has resulted in brushing, drainage upgrades and they will be required to grade the Hurley River Road on our unmaintained portion locally known as the “East Hurley”.

As noted above MOTI has jurisdiction on the portion between Squamish Forest District right through to Bralorne. The classification of the road is a 6f with 6 being the summer maintenance classification and f designating the winter maintenance classification which is closed in winter, no maintenance. There are numerous specifications for all aspects of road maintenance associated with the 6 designation however they are done on a much lesser frequency as 6 is a low designated road.

MOTI will continue to focus our efforts on maintaining access along the year round opened Road 40.

Update from Malcolm Schulz, Engineering Officer , Sea to Sky Forest District

We will aim at carrying out two grades between the Lillooet River turnoff, and the “Welcome to Squamish” sign.  Similar to the Cascade District, we are aiming at doing these after the long-weekend to prolong the effect.  Although there is signage at the bottom of the hill, I would encourage all users to use four wheel drive, as this obviously helps prolong the life on the steep grades.

Throughout the summer we hope to replace two large culverts on the switchbacks.  A temporary road closure will be planned for mid-week.  Once a schedule has been determined I will forward it.

We are also working with MoTI (Squamish), to try and secure millings for the steep switchback grades.  No word yet if those will become available. All projects are obviously contingent on funding being approved.

Update from Ken Conway-Brown, Engineering Officer, Cascades Forest District

The section from Gold Bridge to the East Hurley turnoff will be graded by Aspen Planers this spring. Once they are done hauling we will take over and grade after the long weekends as we have done in previous years. We hope to finish brushing a short section in the fall as well.

Nov 21 2012 – Update in from Backcountry Snowcats.  90 cm of snow at the Hurley Pass.  The Hurley is officially closed to vehicle traffic and is open to sled traffic!   Sledding to Gold Bridge & Bralorne is not possible yet to due thin snow but hopefully it will be soon!

Hazelwood Construction are still working up at the Jamie Creek IPP and will be removing snow on the first few km of the Hurley to the Bridge Main.  They will be plowing the road but will leave some snow on the side for sled traffic.  Please check back for snow removal updates.

Thank you to everyone who sent in Hurley updates and photos after their drive so we can keep everyone updated on conditions.  Winter updates with snow conditions are also appreciated so keep sending your updates to info@bridgerivervalley.ca

Have a great winter!  Let it snow!

It’s a great time for a drive to enjoy the Fall colours on the Hurley!  The colours are peaking right now and the views are spectacular.  The weather forecast looks great for the next week.   The Mineshaft Pub in Bralone and Tyax Lodge are both serving up Thanksgiving Dinner.  Reservations are required.  The Hurley summer season is coming to an end so drive it while you still can!

MOF will be grading the Pemberton switchbacks and logging company Interwest will be grading the Gold Bridge section to the East Hurley junction.  Grading was scheduled to happen before Thanksgiving, however current dry weather conditions are making it counter productive to grade.  As soon as precipitation & moisture comes the road will be graded.  This will make the grading stay in place and therefore not a counter productive process.

Update from Debbie Demare,  Area A Director SLRD

MOF Squamish tells me that a “proper” grading will begin on the Pemberton end “switchbacks” on the Hurley very soon and hopefully before Thanksgiving.

The official I spoke to had some excellent suggestions for improving the road condition of that section of road involving the use of “millings” from the asphalt that is ground down on re-paving projects.

At the ministerial meetings next week at UBCM I will put forward two “incremental” requests related to the Hurley:
1. That the entire road be put under one jurisdiction and one Ministry. Preferably Ministry of Forests as this is more the nature of this road than a public highway.  Makes sense to me, instead of dealing with 3 different offices, 3 different people and 3 different budgets.  Put the entire budget in one office and ministry so it can be used in the most effective way possible.  The only people suffering from the current arrangement are us, the taxpayers!
2. That this concept of dovetailing on asphalt using the millings and rolling them in be budgeted for and implemented in 2013.

Thanks to Debbie for discussing the Hurley Road at  the UBCM conference this week!

A huge lightning storm rolled through on Saturday night and lasted all night long.   As a result of the lightning strikes, 4 fires are burning on the Hurley Road today.  The Lillooet Fire Zone is currently actioning all fires with tanker support to hold the line as crews make their way back into the bush. All of the fires are 1 ha or smaller, and not of great concern at this point.  No travel advisories on the Hurley or interface issues.  Updates will be made if the situation changes.

Drivers on the Hurley Road today are reporting significant smoke in the area.  Drive with caution if visibility from the smoke gets bad.

Please be aware there is a full Campfire Ban in effect for the Lillooet Fire Zone.  This includes the area from the summit of the Hurley to Gold Bridge and Bralorne.

UPDATE:  Fires are all contained and are in mop up.  Another fire started in the Carl Creek area near the East Hurley in Bralorne on Monday and was  spotted by locals who sprung into action and worked with MOF crews to get it out fast!   Great work to everyone involved!