GRAY CREEK PASS CLOSURE FOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
By Contributor
On Tuesday, September 5th Forestry will begin replacing the Baker Creek bridge on the Gray Creek Pass and the route will be closed to vehicles until September 19th.
This bridge is located the Kimberley side, 14 kilometers east of the summit where a barricade will be placed.
However, due to the risk of forest fires, Crown land within the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District is closed to public access as per a Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development BC Wildfire Service news release issued September 2, 2017.
Since 2017 makes this Pass officially part of the Trans Canada Trail we continue to see an increase of those following the Trail
When the Gray Creek pass was opened in 1990 all the bridges were wooden and since all except Baker Creek have been replaced with cement. With this final cement installation ALL bridges are now solid cement – emphasizing the permanence and importance of this seasonal route.
While this is the shortest route between West and East Kootenay it is not necessarily the quickest as it is a gravel Forest Road with steep grades and rougher surface, but is a scenic route popular with those who enjoy back road experiences. Because of the 6800 foot summit this road Is usually open from July 1st to mid or late October, depending on early snowfalls.
