How-to
Stuck on Highway 1 Near Abbotsford? Here's What Helps
If your car acts up on Highway 1 near the Clearbrook Road interchange in Abbotsford, don't try to fix it beside fast traffic. Hazards on, and get off at the next exit if the car still rolls. Stop on a side street or in a lot, not on the Clearbrook Road bridge. From there, a jump, a spare tire, fuel or a lockout visit can come to you.
Why is Highway 1 near Clearbrook hard to stop on right now?
Coming from Langley, Highway 1 drops to two lanes each way in Abbotsford. That leaves little room when a car quits. And this part of town is full of construction.
The province is widening 8 km of Highway 1, from Mt. Lehman Road to Highway 11. Here is what that means near Clearbrook:
- The Clearbrook Road bridge is down to two lanes each way. Crews are rebuilding its deck. The province set this from August 10, 2026 until mid-November.
- The off-ramps can back up. The province warned of extra traffic on the Highway 1 off-ramps and at both ends of the bridge.
- Peardonville Road is being rebuilt. Work on the new crossing began September 17, 2026. About 1.6 km of Highway 1 gets wider there. The province expects to finish in 2031.
- More widening runs past Clearbrook and McCallum. The Mainline East project adds about 4.6 km of wider highway. It also runs to 2031.
The province says most of the work happens overnight. Expect lane shifts, construction speed zones and night closures. Near the Highway 11 interchange, the limit on Highway 1 is 80 km/h during construction.
Can I get a jump or a tire change right on the highway?
Usually not, and you shouldn't try. ICBC's driver guide is plain about it: don't do roadside repairs on crowded, fast-moving freeways. That goes for your own spare and for a jump with cables across the hood.
A jump needs both hoods up and cables between the cars. A tire change puts someone on their knees next to the lane. On a narrow shoulder near a barrier, neither is safe.
So the real plan has two steps. First, get the car somewhere calm. Then let the fix come to you. If the car can't move at all, the first step is a tow to a safe spot or a shop.
Where should I stop near the Clearbrook interchange?
ICBC says to try for the nearest exit or service area. It also says to avoid stopping on a bridge if you can. Near Clearbrook, that matters. The Clearbrook Road structure is a bridge over the highway, and its lanes are already squeezed.
- If the car still drives well, take the Clearbrook Road exit and roll past the bridge. Find a side street or a parking lot.
- If the ramp is jammed, wait your turn in line with hazards on. Don't stop on the ramp shoulder unless the car dies.
- If you can't make the exit, pull as far right as you can. Stop where the shoulder is widest, not next to a barrier.
- If you're stuck in a live lane, stay buckled in with hazards on and call 911.
Marshall Road runs right by the interchange. A quiet spot just off it gives your driver room to park, open the hood and work.
Which kind of help do I actually need?
Most roadside trouble near Abbotsford is one of five things. Match what you see to the right call.
| What happened | What to ask for |
|---|---|
| Clicks or nothing when you turn the key | Jump start |
| Flat tire and a good spare in the trunk | Flat tire change |
| Keys locked inside | Car lockout |
| Gauge on empty and the engine quits | Fuel delivery |
| Steam, grinding, a crash, or no spare | A tow |
Not sure? Say what you heard and saw. "It cranked slow, then died" points to the battery. "Something banged and now it shakes" points to a tow.
What if a tire blows on the highway?
ICBC's advice: hold the wheel firm and don't slam the brakes. Ease off the gas and let the car slow. Then signal, hazards on, and pull off when it's safe. Driving a short way on a flat to reach the exit can ruin the rim. Stopping beside traffic can be worse. Use your judgment, and stop sooner if the car pulls hard.
What do I tell my driver about where I am?
Highway 1 through Abbotsford has a lot of nearby roads with similar names. Give your driver a clear picture:
- Direction. Eastbound toward Chilliwack or westbound toward Langley.
- The last interchange you passed. Mount Lehman Road, Clearbrook Road, McCallum Road or Sumas Way.
- Highway, ramp or bridge. Say if you're on the Clearbrook Road bridge or on a ramp, not the highway itself.
- Off the highway? Give the street name and the nearest cross street.
Share your phone's map pin too. Then add the words. A pin near an interchange can sit on the wrong level.
How do I wait safely near Clearbrook?
ICBC says to stay with your vehicle. If someone stops to help, don't get into a stranger's car. Ask them to drive on and call for you.
Abbotsford gets fog on about 27 days a year, based on Environment Canada's airport normals. If it's dark or foggy, ICBC suggests a warning triangle. Set it out only if you can do it without walking into traffic.
When your driver shows up, B.C. law helps. Under Slow Down, Move Over, drivers passing a tow truck with flashing lights slow to 70 km/h where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Below that, they slow to 40 km/h. On multi-lane roads, they move over when it's safe.
If anyone is hurt, call 911 first. Sentinel is not an emergency service.
How does Sentinel get help to me?
Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. We have no Abbotsford office and no trucks of our own. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We text you a locked price before anyone is sent. Then we check on you by text until help arrives. That's the Stay-With-You Promise.
You get your driver's name, photo and truck by text. That helps when the Clearbrook ramps are full of work trucks. You can also track your truck on a map while it works around lane closures.
Before you call, check DriveBC if you can do it safely. The province posts closures there. For help elsewhere in town, from Mill Lake to the Sumas Prairie, see our Abbotsford towing page.
Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.
Abbotsford Roadside Help Questions
Can someone jump my car on the Highway 1 shoulder near Clearbrook?
It's not a safe place for it. ICBC warns against roadside repairs on busy, fast freeways. If the car still moves, get off at the exit first. If it won't move, it gets towed off the highway, then jumped or taken to a shop.
How long is the Clearbrook Road bridge down to two lanes each way?
The province set it from August 10, 2026 until mid-November. It says weather can change the timing. Check DriveBC for the latest.
I have a spare but no jack. Can you still help?
Yes. Your driver brings the tools to put your spare on. If the spare is flat too, ask for a tow instead.
Who do I call about the Highway 1 construction?
The province runs an information line for the Fraser Valley Highway 1 work at 604-527-2221. It answers project questions, not roadside calls. For a jump, a tire or a tow, call us.
Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: Clearbrook Road structure notice, Mt. Lehman Road to Highway 11, Mainline East, B.C. news release, Peardonville Road crossing, Fraser Valley Highway 1 traffic impacts, B.C. traffic advisory, Highway 11, ICBC Learn to Drive Smart, emergency strategies, B.C. Slow Down, Move Over, Environment Canada climate normals, DriveBC.
