148 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Total shutdown this morning at Kennedy Lake east of Tofino due to what is being called a "major road failure."

 

A rock slide closed the highway earlier today at Kennedy Lake, and now the road has been deemed to have failed.

 

Brutal.

[Bernard]

Based on the mapped location on Drive BC, I am surprised this is where the road has failed.  If the location on the map is correct, this should not be a location that could not be re-opened within days.   It may only be a single lane, but it least it would be open.   There are a few spots between this location and Sutton Pass where a road failure could mean a closure for a much longer time.   

[VIResident]

Snagged this bit of info from Middle Beach Lodge (thank you):

 

Thursday January 23 (7:30 am)

Highway 4 is closed at the Kennedy Hill construction site due to rock that came down onto the road during a scheduled blast. This rock compromised an existing retaining wall along the highway and resulted in the loss of the travel lane. Crews and engineers are onsite to determine an immediate repair. Right now, DriveBC is projecting a 5 pm opening - but this will be updated once the engineering assessment is completed. Traffic control is being set up at the junction and at Sproat Lake, turning traffic around.

[Mike K.]

Wow, the blast was never specified by Drive BC.

[Jackerbie]

We have a photo! via Drive BC on Twitter

 

[VIResident]

Yah that isn't going to be passable by 5pm today.  That's as bad as it gets.  

[Bernard]

That is not the location Drive BC showed on their website.   I was aware of the working being done there and when I first read the post at the top I assumed that it was this location but then Drive BC had it elsewhere and made no reference to it being connected to the construction

[Mike K.]

Yeah, they oftentimes don’t identify the actual location of an incident.

[Linear Thinker]

Will open today at noon until 8pm "for passenger cars and light trucks for essential travel only"

More here

[Victoria Watcher]

Lottery offers chance to buy home in Tofino

 

Three half-duplex homes are up for grabs, each of which has been appraised at more than $1 million, while the price for lottery winners is $699,000 plus GST

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...-tofino-5891329

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 30 September 2022 - 04:30 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Three overnight closings planned for Highway 4, to Ucluelet and Tofino

 

Overnight closings of Highway 4 at Kennedy Hill will occur Thursday to Saturday, Nov. 17, 18, 19.

 

 

https://www.timescol...-tofino-6083986

[Mike K.]

Yesterday, Highway 4 was closed in both directions without a detour due to an MVI at Cameron Lake. Then later in the day, a wildfire near the lake forced its closure again, and it remains closed this morning.

So Port Alberni and Tofino are cut off, unless you take the back roads. Which you can, but you should really have 4x4 or AWD, and a GPS unit. This is why it’s a good idea to download Google Maps onto your phone, covering the Island. Then you can use your phone as GPS without an internet connection.

[AllseeingEye]

Yesterday, Highway 4 was closed in both directions without a detour due to an MVI at Cameron Lake. Then later in the day, a wildfire near the lake forced its closure again, and it remains closed this morning.

So Port Alberni and Tofino are cut off, unless you take the back roads. Which you can, but you should really have 4x4 or AWD, and a GPS unit. This is why it’s a good idea to download Google Maps onto your phone, covering the Island. Then you can use your phone as GPS without an internet connection.

 

Oh yeah those Carmanah and Gordon mains are fun driving, lol. Anyone driving them better take to heart the 4x4 or AWD - at a minimum - suggestion. And watch out for the big logging rigs because they tear along those routes like they own them. Which they do.

[Mike K.]

It’s just a gravel road, a 2WD sedan can drive it just fine. But people tend to get into trouble when pulling over onto a soft shoulder or up a spur then they can’t get out, or their tires aren’t strong enough for gravel roads and one or two pop.

Really it’s 90% tire type and quality on those roads that matters.

[lanforod]

Are those mains always open? I've never ventured out onto them as I worry about gates.

[Mike K.]

There are no gates along the big mains. There are communities there that need those roads open (Ditidaht, Bamfield, etc). Where you’ll encounter locked gates is on spurs, or duplicate routes, but never the main roads connecting communities. It’s an awesome jaunt between Cowichan and Alberni. If you have good tires go for it.

[AllseeingEye]

Are those mains always open? I've never ventured out onto them as I worry about gates.

 

Yes the gates are controlled by Mosaic forest management, basically a timberlands management firm which manages forest planning, operations and sales on behalf of Timberwest. Mosaic itself is owned largely by several large Canadian pension funds. The gates you're concerned about primarily block access to actively logged and generally more remote areas where you certainly won't be driving so driving to Pacific Rim or PA is fine insofar as land access blocked off by Mosaic which won't be a concern for you.

[Mike K.]

Mosaic controls some gates, and only on the lands they manage.

The gates they control can be seen on their gate status site here: https://www.mosaicforests.com/access

There are many hundreds more gates installed all throughout the hinterlands controlled by a huge swath of groups. Generally speaking, if you ever find yourself crossing a gate, you may find it locked on your return journey. And in some cases, you might drive 100km only to find the gate at the other end of the logging road is locked, where you had planned to access a highway or paved road. Always ask locals for gate updates if you’re unsure, and use the Backroads Mapbook’s latest version for the best sense of where gates are installed.

[Mike K.]

Now the detour will close.

Clown World, infrastructure edition.

The Highway 4 detour will be closed for part of the day on Friday, June 9, 2023, as crews and environmental specialists work to extract a vehicle that rolled into Francis Lake along the detour.

Highway 4 remains closed at Cameron Lake Bluff due to wildfire in the area.

The detour, which directs traffic from Port Alberni through to Lake Cowichan via Bamfield, will be closed to all vehicles from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday. The detour will open sooner if the vehicle extraction is completed quickly.

All travellers are urged to avoid travel along the detour route before, during and after the closure because commercial trucks will be queueing for passage.

The detour is along forest-service and privately owned industrial roads, includes single-lane bridges and challenging terrain, and adds an additional four hours of travel to the route. The Province has asked drivers to avoid travel and only take the detour for essential purposes.

The Province urges preparation and patience as long wait times are expected once the detour reopens. Drivers should fuel up and bring extra supplies, food and water, and are encouraged to plan trips during daylight hours and to drive with caution.

[AllseeingEye]

A friend who needed to get home was compelled to to drive the route today - much idiocy out there apparently according to him, starting with brain cramp number one in those conditions - turn your damn lights on and keep them on for the duration of the journey. When conditions are that dusty headlights are about the only thing allowing other drivers to see you. So unless you'd like a logging truck to unexpectedly drop in for company in your front seat, you do it. He saw at least one vehicle perched on the side of the road that ran out of gas - how do you *not* fuel up your car before a trip of that nature?

 

One other suggestion that my buddy came up with - when conditions are somewhat exceptional given the circumstances which are forcing so many onto a route they otherwise would not drive, make sure to top up and also take along an extra litre of windshield wiper fluid 'cuz you're going to go through a ton of it....