A second extended closure of Highway 4 is in effect Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. as the Ministry of Transportation continues its rock-scaling work at Cameron Bluffs.
Rock scaling — the removal of loose rocks — is needed because the slopes in the area have been compromised by a wildfire that has been burning since June. The fire has been under control for several weeks.
The first such closure happened last Thursday, when 10 truckloads of rock debris were removed.
The two extended sessions were needed after about a dozen refrigerator-sized boulders were discovered around the slopes. Five of the boulders were removed last Thursday, with the largest about 1.2 cubic metres.
They are in addition to the regular weekday schedule of closures for rock scaling from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 5 p.m.
All of the rock scaling is being done next to a single-lane stretch of highway that has been allowing alternating traffic to get through on the vital link that connects Port Alberni, Tofino and Ucluelet with the rest of the Island.
The fire initially led to a full highway closure that prompted the establishment of a detour route on back roads between Lake Cowichan and Port Alberni.
Traffic on the detour route eased when the single-lane opening was established, but the route is still in place and will be available during Thursday’s closure.
The ministry is aiming for a full highway opening by the end of the month.
Updates on road conditions are available at drivebc.ca.
