Julianne McCaffrey took this aerial photo Thursday of the rock slide that has closed the Sea to Sky Highway near Porteau Cove, B.C. Submitted by Julianne McCaffrey

British Columbia's Sea-to-Sky Highway, blocked by a rockslide since Tuesday, is open again.

The road is the principal route between Vancouver and 2010 Olympic sites in Whistler, which has made some people nervous about the risk of future slides. But for now, the relief has been immediate for towns in the area.

In Squamish, which is celebrating its Loggers Sports Days, municipal Coun. Raj Kahlon said it's important to have traffic flowing again.

"In a weekend like that, they come for fishing supplies, the restaurant's busy, all the outdoor activities are busy," he told CBC News.

"It will be a definite positive for the business, and right in the middle of the fair, the Loggers Sports show, it's just exciting."

People living in communities along the Sea-to-Sky owe thanks to crews who worked around the clock to clear the debris, Kahlon said.

B.C. Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon acknowledged that the closing hurt communities, especially Whistler and Squamish. "And I want to thank them and apologize for the inconvenience that must have caused, to have that road closed for several days," he said.

Jonathan Deschenes, who works in a Whistler restaurant, was hoping the long-weekend crowds would finally begin to arrive Sunday.

"We're ready for it, and we're ready for people. I'm pretty sure a few people are going to do the drive," he said.