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.
含羞草研究社淲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,含羞草研究社� the announcement reads, adding that the timeline is weather dependent.
In an email to the Westerly News, Tofino chamber of commerce executive director Jen Dart cautioned that the West Coast含羞草研究社檚 winter weather can be challenging.
含羞草研究社淚 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,含羞草研究社� she wrote. 含羞草研究社淚 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.含羞草研究社�
The project and its and flew past its initial 2020 completion timeline as well as its $38 million budget.
含羞草研究社淎s far as stress levels it含羞草研究社檚 put on me over the last few years, it含羞草研究社檚 been pretty insane,含羞草研究社� Ryan Wackett of Westcoast Connect told the Westerly News. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 going to be a massive relief once that opens up to two lane traffic again.含羞草研究社�
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 drivers含羞草研究社� commutes.
含羞草研究社淥bviously the cost to pay these drivers went up substantially over the last few years,含羞草研究社� he said, adding one driver quit due to the longer hours. 含羞草研究社淚 lost a really good driver because of it, so that was a heavy hit.含羞草研究社�
Wackett recalled being frustrated early on in the project as shifting closure schedules made it nearly impossible to plan ahead.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 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,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚 was getting frustrated that they couldn含羞草研究社檛 at least keep a set schedule, they just kept changing it all the time. It was always different. Now that it含羞草研究社檚 been a set schedule, it hasn含羞草研究社檛 been too bad, but I含羞草研究社檒l be happy for my drivers because they含羞草研究社檒l have less of a long day.含羞草研究社�
He added he is confident the province will follow through on its commitment to have both lanes open soon.
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 optimistically hopeful that it will be what they say,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚t will relieve the pocket book a little bit, it will relieve the stress that含羞草研究社檚 on my drivers, which will relieve my stress.含羞草研究社�
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 province含羞草研究社檚 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.
含羞草研究社淭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,含羞草研究社� the announcement reads.
含羞草研究社淭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.含羞草研究社�
Tofino mayor Dan Law said the frequent closures of the only road in and out of the region were painful, but he含羞草研究社檚 excited to see the finished result.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 been a tough few years with the delays and the construction, there含羞草研究社檚 no doubt about it, but once it含羞草研究社檚 done it含羞草研究社檚 going to be fantastic,含羞草研究社� Law said. 含羞草研究社淚t was a treacherous piece of highway and it was an extremely tough job to do. I think everybody含羞草研究社檚 going to be happy when it含羞草研究社檚 done and safer and widened and, to top it all off, I think that rest stop is going to be spectacular and well-loved.含羞草研究社�
He added that residents are looking forward to no longer having to navigate through the closure schedules and delays.
含羞草研究社淓specially for people that have had to get out of town for medical reasons or any essential reasons, it含羞草研究社檚 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,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚 think everybody can appreciate that it just had to get done and anybody can see that it was a really difficult project. I含羞草研究社檓 really happy that the Minister of Transportation put the effort in for us and I含羞草研究社檒l be happy to be on the other side of it.含羞草研究社�
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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