Highway 4 road repairs near Kennedy Hill are expected to take another week or more to complete.
The work was originally expected to be finished by Oct. 18, but the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said the recent atmospheric river resulted in additional work to ensure public safety, so the new anticipated completion date is Nov. 15, “pending any unforeseen challenges.”
The highway closed in both directions for several hours on Oct. 18 due to water and rocks on the road, according to DriveBC. The following day, an atmospheric river hit Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, causing flooding, power outages and mudslides.
Many of those arriving to attend Ucluelet’s Edge to Edge Half Marathon and 10K were left stuck on the highway for up to 7.5 hours without any updates, according to Josh Jenkins, executive director of the Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce.
Because there is no cell service for most of that section of Highway 4, visitors and residents are unable to communicate with loved ones, accommodation providers or support services if they get stranded in a road closure, which Jenkins called “deeply concerning.”
“A major problem remains the absence of mobile service along Highway 4. We’ve advocated for years to have mobile services installed, and the events at Kennedy Hill highlighted the critical need.”
Jenkins said visitor numbers on the coast have declined, though it’s unclear whether that’s solely due to the roadwork. Ucluelet saw a slower than usual start to the off-season, which Jenkins said likely reflects “broader recession and affordability concerns.”
“While the peak season was good for most, the shoulder and off seasons have been weaker than usual,” he said.
Work on Highway 4, which began Sept. 9, includes base repair and drainage improvement.
Drivers are required to queue in single-lane alternating traffic about two kilometres east of Kennedy Hill, and are being warned to expect delays of up to 20 minutes in both directions until the project is complete.
Once the base repair is finished, crews will time the asphalt resurfacing work with the weather, the ministry said.
The chamber says repeated highway closures in recent years have hurt the Pacific Rim’s reputation as a destination.
“Many people may simply prefer not to risk the perceived high likelihood of travel issues to and from the coast,” said Jenkins, adding restoring lost confidence will require time and proactive efforts, along with measures to prevent future disruptions.
The ministry has advised the regional district, municipalities, First Nations communities and other key stakeholders of the project and the new date — a move Jenkins says they greatly appreciate.
“It reflects a shift toward more inclusive policies that consider affected communities, which has been extremely beneficial.”
Nora O’Malley is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter with Ha-Shilth-Sa. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
