Update: Highway 4 reopened to traffic Saturday morning after being closed overnight due to strong winds in the Cameron Bluffs area.
Drive B.C. announced shortly after 7 a.m. that the highway is open again. Single-lane alternating traffic is place where crews are continuing to work on the stretch of road next to steep slopes.
Drivers were asked to respect traffic control and expect delays.
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Tofino residents were excitedly awaiting visitors Friday evening after Highway 4 reopened following a closure that started on June 6.
Coun. Kat Thomas said she heard people were lining up at the reopening point near Cameron Bluffs as soon as they heard the news that traffic would flow again at 3 p.m.
“We’re anticipating that hopefully we will see a very busy weekend, and everybody will start coming through tonight and definitely tomorrow and through the weekend,” Thomas said.
Residents are celebrating the news, she said. “It just means summer can start.”
However, just hours after being reopened, the road was closed again due to high winds.
The province said it was closed in both directions for seven kilometres between Cathedral Grove and Koen Road.
The May long weekend typically kicks off the busy summer season in Tofino, but the area has been quiet since June 6, when a section of Highway 4 at Cameron Bluffs was closed due to a wildfire on the slope above the road. Some visitors continued to arrive despite the closure, using the detour via Lake Cowichan to reach Tofino or flying in, but numbers were much lower than usual, Thomas said.
Tourism operators in Tofino and Ucluelet are looking forward to a return of visitors.
“After a very trying 17 days for our communities, the road is now set to open and we can’t wait to welcome visitors from around the world back to this beautiful region,” said Brad Parsell, Tourism Tofino executive director, shortly before Highway 4 opened.
The section of highway will have a phased reopening, beginning with single-lane alternating traffic at Cameron Bluffs for about two kilometres to accommodate safety measures, such as a temporary concrete barrier wall and protective mesh curtains, which are acting as barricades to potential falling debris. The road is open to all vehicles, except oversized loads, which are required to use a detour route via Lake Cowichan and the Bamfield area.
The detour, which includes gravel roads where there is no cell service, will remain open until Highway 4 fully reopens, which is expected in July.
Crews have been working to stabilize the steep slope rising above the highway.
Large trees and rocks have been falling down the slope onto the roadway because of the 229-hectare Cameron Bluffs wildfire. The fire is under control and crews are patrolling the area and putting out hotspots.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is urging drivers to have patience as queues are expected to be long.
“I thank the people, families and businesses in Port Alberni, Tofino and Ucluelet who have been patient, understanding and supportive of the incredible work undertaken to allow the highway to reopen,” said Josie Osborne, MLA for Mid Island-Pacific Rim.
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