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.
sa国际传媒淲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,sa国际传媒� 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 Coastsa国际传媒檚 winter weather can be challenging.
sa国际传媒淚 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,sa国际传媒� she wrote. sa国际传媒淚 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.sa国际传媒�
The project and its and flew past its initial 2020 completion timeline as well as its $38 million budget.
sa国际传媒淎s far as stress levels itsa国际传媒檚 put on me over the last few years, itsa国际传媒檚 been pretty insane,sa国际传媒� Ryan Wackett of Westcoast Connect told the Westerly News. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 going to be a massive relief once that opens up to two lane traffic again.sa国际传媒�
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 driverssa国际传媒� commutes.
sa国际传媒淥bviously the cost to pay these drivers went up substantially over the last few years,sa国际传媒� he said, adding one driver quit due to the longer hours. sa国际传媒淚 lost a really good driver because of it, so that was a heavy hit.sa国际传媒�
Wackett recalled being frustrated early on in the project as shifting closure schedules made it nearly impossible to plan ahead.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 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,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚 was getting frustrated that they couldnsa国际传媒檛 at least keep a set schedule, they just kept changing it all the time. It was always different. Now that itsa国际传媒檚 been a set schedule, it hasnsa国际传媒檛 been too bad, but Isa国际传媒檒l be happy for my drivers because theysa国际传媒檒l have less of a long day.sa国际传媒�
He added he is confident the province will follow through on its commitment to have both lanes open soon.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 optimistically hopeful that it will be what they say,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚t will relieve the pocket book a little bit, it will relieve the stress thatsa国际传媒檚 on my drivers, which will relieve my stress.sa国际传媒�
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 provincesa国际传媒檚 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.
sa国际传媒淭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,sa国际传媒� the announcement reads.
sa国际传媒淭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.sa国际传媒�
Tofino mayor Dan Law said the frequent closures of the only road in and out of the region were painful, but hesa国际传媒檚 excited to see the finished result.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 been a tough few years with the delays and the construction, theresa国际传媒檚 no doubt about it, but once itsa国际传媒檚 done itsa国际传媒檚 going to be fantastic,sa国际传媒� Law said. sa国际传媒淚t was a treacherous piece of highway and it was an extremely tough job to do. I think everybodysa国际传媒檚 going to be happy when itsa国际传媒檚 done and safer and widened and, to top it all off, I think that rest stop is going to be spectacular and well-loved.sa国际传媒�
He added that residents are looking forward to no longer having to navigate through the closure schedules and delays.
sa国际传媒淓specially for people that have had to get out of town for medical reasons or any essential reasons, itsa国际传媒檚 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,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚 think everybody can appreciate that it just had to get done and anybody can see that it was a really difficult project. Isa国际传媒檓 really happy that the Minister of Transportation put the effort in for us and Isa国际传媒檒l be happy to be on the other side of it.sa国际传媒�
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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