After more than two months of limited access to services in Canada, Hyder residents will once again be able to cross the border at any hour.
The Ketchikan Daily News reports that the gate has been raised on the lone road between Hyder and Stewart, British Columbia. It had been temporarily closing from midnight until 8 a.m. as part of a Canada Border Services Agency cost-cutting measure.
The change had restricted Alaskans’ access to emergency medical care and officials in both countries say it had the potential to disrupt residents’ lives.
Hyder is about 2 miles away from Stewart, where the region’s only hospital is located.
At night, the crossing will allow unrestricted access to the U.S. from Canada and require those traveling into Canada to check in by phone.
