The road connecting Port Alberni to the west coast of Vancouver Island is back to single-lane alternating traffic to repair damage caused by last winter’s rains.
Traffic queues start about two kilometres east of Kennedy Hill and drivers are being warned to plan for delays of as much as 20 minutes in both directions until late October.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure says staff have been monitoring the area and observed further degradation of the base and surface of that section of Highway 4 due to heavy rains last winter.
West coasters recently endured five years of daily closures, nightly closures, 24-hour closures and single-lane alternating traffic for the roughly $54 million Kennedy Hill Safety Improvement Project that was completed in spring 2023, but the ministry says the current work was not part of that project’s scope.
Work was planned for September and October rather than during the peak summer tourist season to minimize the impact, the ministry said, but it has to be done prior to the fall and winter rains.
The work will include excavating about 100 metres of roadway, improving the road base and installing new asphalt to prevent erosion, the ministry said.
The ministry says its representatives met with key west coast interest-holders, including municipal officials, regional district, emergency services and First Nations, “to ensure clear communication was established in advance of any works.”
Samantha Hackett, executive director of the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, said the road work will enhance safety for both residents and visitors. “We appreciate the commitment to ensuring that the West Coast remains accessible for our thriving destinations,” she said in a statement.
For road updates and changes to the construction schedule, go to drivebc.ca.
Nora O’Malley is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter with Ha-Shilth-Sa. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
