Four years of travel delays may finally be coming to an end for West Coast residents and visitors.
The provincial government announced last week that its $54 million Kennedy Hill Safety Improvements project is over 90 per cent complete and the only highway connecting Tofino and Ucluelet to the rest of Vancouver Island is expected to fully open to two-way traffic in early 2023.
B次元官网网址淲hen both lanes are open, traffic impacts will be reduced to nighttime closures and minor interruptions during the day while the contractor continues to work toward final project completion in the spring,B次元官网网址� the announcement reads, adding that the timeline is weather dependent.
In an email to the Westerly B次元官网网址, Tofino chamber of commerce executive director Jen Dart cautioned that the West CoastB次元官网网址檚 winter weather can be challenging.
B次元官网网址淚 would not be terribly surprised if the winter weather means it gets pushed back a bit later than early in the new year, but we are nearing the end of the project so that is great news,B次元官网网址� she wrote. B次元官网网址淚 think everyone is very excited to see the end of this multi-year project. The road opening to two-way traffic is a welcomed step closer to the end goal of a finished highway.B次元官网网址�
The project and its and flew past its initial 2020 completion timeline as well as its $38 million budget.
B次元官网网址淎s far as stress levels itB次元官网网址檚 put on me over the last few years, itB次元官网网址檚 been pretty insane,B次元官网网址� Ryan Wackett of Westcoast Connect told the Westerly B次元官网网址. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be a massive relief once that opens up to two lane traffic again.B次元官网网址�
Westcoast Connect transports goods in and out of the West Coast with two trucks running daily over Sutton Pass and Wackett said the single-lane alternating traffic delays have added at least two hours to his driversB次元官网网址� commutes.
B次元官网网址淥bviously the cost to pay these drivers went up substantially over the last few years,B次元官网网址� he said, adding one driver quit due to the longer hours. B次元官网网址淚 lost a really good driver because of it, so that was a heavy hit.B次元官网网址�
Wackett recalled being frustrated early on in the project as shifting closure schedules made it nearly impossible to plan ahead.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been consistent at least in the last year and a half when they stuck to their schedules instead of switching it every two weeks. That was actually a real huge pain in the butt because I had to readjust all my pick up times multiple times in the beginning,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 was getting frustrated that they couldnB次元官网网址檛 at least keep a set schedule, they just kept changing it all the time. It was always different. Now that itB次元官网网址檚 been a set schedule, it hasnB次元官网网址檛 been too bad, but IB次元官网网址檒l be happy for my drivers because theyB次元官网网址檒l have less of a long day.B次元官网网址�
He added he is confident the province will follow through on its commitment to have both lanes open soon.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 optimistically hopeful that it will be what they say,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t will relieve the pocket book a little bit, it will relieve the stress thatB次元官网网址檚 on my drivers, which will relieve my stress.B次元官网网址�
The project involved blasting away about 180,000 cubic metres of rock, including the removal of an overhanging rock that was believed to be hazardous to vehicles, particularly large trucks, according to the provinceB次元官网网址檚 announcement.
It adds that stabilization bolts were drilled into the remaining rockface, which would measure seven kilometres if laid in a straight line, retaining structures were installed on the downslope between the highway and Kennedy Lake and two cantilever structures were built to widen the road. A new rest stop is also being constructed overlooking Kennedy Lake.
B次元官网网址淭his is a major milestone of the project to upgrade the 1.5-kilometre Kennedy Hill section to a safer, more reliable road for residents, tourists and truckers,B次元官网网址� the announcement reads.
B次元官网网址淭he road has been straightened and flattened, with better visibility, wider travel lanes and shoulders, and new roadside barriers between the highway and Kennedy Lake.B次元官网网址�
Tofino mayor Dan Law said the frequent closures of the only road in and out of the region were painful, but heB次元官网网址檚 excited to see the finished result.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a tough few years with the delays and the construction, thereB次元官网网址檚 no doubt about it, but once itB次元官网网址檚 done itB次元官网网址檚 going to be fantastic,B次元官网网址� Law said. B次元官网网址淚t was a treacherous piece of highway and it was an extremely tough job to do. I think everybodyB次元官网网址檚 going to be happy when itB次元官网网址檚 done and safer and widened and, to top it all off, I think that rest stop is going to be spectacular and well-loved.B次元官网网址�
He added that residents are looking forward to no longer having to navigate through the closure schedules and delays.
B次元官网网址淓specially for people that have had to get out of town for medical reasons or any essential reasons, itB次元官网网址檚 been tough and West Coasters are tough. People adapted and I think everybody rolled with the punches knowing that in the end the result is going to be well worth it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 think everybody can appreciate that it just had to get done and anybody can see that it was a really difficult project. IB次元官网网址檓 really happy that the Minister of Transportation put the effort in for us and IB次元官网网址檒l be happy to be on the other side of it.B次元官网网址�
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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