HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

placement of the river back in its original course. There was still a considerable amount of debris under the approach
trestle.
On the N.T.P.H. between Terrace-Smithers, the Kitsequecla bridge No. 61 had three of its timber bents
washed out. The riverbed scoured down 4-5 ft. (1.2-1.5 m). The highway washed out Toboggan Creek, Gull Creek,
and a creek near Dorreen. Several rockslides occurred just east of Terrace and washouts between Hazelton-Usk. The
western approach of the Copper River suspension bridge No. 168 washed out. A slide and washout occurred at Mile
26 and a slide at the Mannix rock cuts. Twist Creek washed out and a slide happened at Hells Bells Creek. Both the
approaches of Coyote Creek were washed out. The culvert at Gull Creek washed out and at Whiskey Creek more
scour occurred on the upstream banks. The construction of the bridge at Gull Creek depended on the opening of the
road from Terrace so that the bridge crew could get across. The pile bent on the Price Creek bridge went out. At the
Nash Gullies, washouts occurred in two of the three gullies. West of Toboggan Creek bridge No. 106, one half of the
roadbed was washed out over a distance of 100 ft. (30 m).
The highway section between Terrace-South Hazelton reopened on November 26, after being closed for over
three weeks. The South Hazelton to Smithers section had reopened on November 4 and Hazelton to Kitwanga on
November 21.
Around Terrace, Lakelse Road, Kalum Road, and several minor side roads were damaged. The Williams
Creek bridge No. 124 on Lakelse Road had its southern approach washed out. The Goat Creek bridge No. 223 on
Kalum Road washed out. The centre pier on the Kitwancool bridge No. 57 settled at least 1 ft. (30 cm).
On the Lorne Creek Road, the eastern crib of Fiddler Creek bridge No. 37 scoured underneath. Lorne Creek
bridge No. 323 washed out. On the Dean Road, Cherry Tree bridge No. 139 washed out. The Hodkin No. 1 bridge on
the Hodkin Road had its east crib washed out, and a washout occurred on Owens Road. The Copper City Ferry lost its
northern landing pontoon and the Usk Ferry lost a rowboat.
The cost to repair the damage caused during the November 2 event, only to open the roads, was estimated at
$8,840. The total repair cost for the flooding of October to December was, to December 17: roads, $11,046.71;
bridges, $2,653.97; and ferries, $262.42. The total was $13,963.10. Heavy snowfalls during the first week of
December caused considerable trouble opening the roads. On December 11, the Lakelse Road was practically closed.
In the Portland Canal District, the heavy damage to the roads and bridges was estimated at $15,000. The
145-ft. (43.5 m) span bridge across Bitter Creek washed out. The Northern B.C. Power Company’s plant was
extensively damaged after being hit by a slide.
January 12-16, 1946
Event type: Snow avalanche.
Precipitation: Not applicable.
Source: The Interior News, January 17, 1946.
On January 12-13, heavy snow in the Terrace to Smithers area delayed the eastbound passenger train.
Around January 16, a large snowslide blocked the highway near Kwinitsa. This caused the highway through to Prince
Rupert to be closed till spring. *1)
Unofficial reports estimated the slide at 600-1,200 ft. (180-360 m) long. Two Public Works engineers left for
Terrace by car to determine the extent of the slide. They were unable to make the return trip, being forced to turn back
and leave their car in Terrace. They had traveled only 27 mi. (43.2 km) behind a snowplow in nine hours. Since that
time, heavy snowfalls added to the almost impossible task of opening the road between Hazelton-Terrace.
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*1) The highway west of Terrace had been impassable due to the bridge being out at Amsbury following high water
the previous fall. (The Interior News, January 17, 1946).
September 20-22, 1946
Event type: Severe storm.
Precipitation: Prince Rupert (116.7 mm/3 days), September 20-22, 1946; Falls River (184.6 mm/4 days), September
20-23, 1946; Aiyansh (35.3 mm/1 day), September 22, 1946; Kitimat Mission (70.1 mm/1 day), September 22, 1946.
Source: The Evening Empire, September 23, 1945; Telegram, September 23, 1946, J. C. Brady (Dist. Eng.) to Art
Kennedy (Dept. of Public Works, Terrace). B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Terrace.
Gales along the north coast caused considerable damage. Fishing boats at Inverness and Port Simpson were
set adrift. A Prince Rupert fisherman was swept overboard and drowned. A washout was reported on the highway at
Salvus.
January 10, 1947
Event type: Rockfall.
Precipitation: Not applicable.
Source: The Interior News, January 15, 1947.
On January 10, a CNR Bridges and Buildings foreman was killed after he was thrown from his speeder when
it struck a rock on the track near Pacific just west of Doreen.
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