Hell’s Gate Airtram has survived floods

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• Our investigation into the failure of the Sumas dike, and the reasons other levees are doomed to fail in the event of an even worse flood from the Fraser

• Our comprehensive story on the challenges Fraser Valley dairy farmers are facing

• Our comprehensive story on the history of Sumas Prairie, Sumas Lake, and the Nooksack River

Reports of the death of the Hell’s Gate Airtram have been premature.

On Monday, the CBC quoted a pilot as saying the famous Fraser Canyon landmark had been washed away in last week’s floods and that not a trace remained. That was the first many had heard that the tram may have been damaged by the flood waters.

But William Wu, the operations manager of the tram, told The Current Tuesday morning that on-site cameras show the tram’s lower terminal intact and the tram still there.

“From our cameras, our tram is still there,” Wu said, before adding: “I’m not 100 per cent sure. ”

Wu sent an employee to the site Tuesday morning to confirm. And sure enough, the tram has survived, maintenance staff on the scene report.

Highway 1 was opened Sunday between Hope and Boothroyd, north of Boston Bar. The tram is located along that stretch of road. While the Fraser did rise substantially, water levels did not reach the same record heights as on some of its tributaries.

There was another piece of positive evidence before Tuesday’s confirmation. Last Wednesday, Peregrine Aerial Surveys photographed the intact lower terminal of the tram. The photo was posted on the company’s Twitter feed. The historic Alexandra Bridge, located just south of the Airtram, also appears to have survived.