NANAIMO — Crews nearing the finish line of extensive upgrades to Hwy. 4, east of Tofino and Ucluelet, are resuming some extended closures.
Between Wednesday, Aug. 3 and Friday, Aug. 5, the highway will close from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. to allow an uninterrupted period of work to take place.
A release from the province noted the closures are needed “to place cantilever girders and to complete deck panel placement.”
Unlike other overnight closures, no release of accumulated traffic will take place during the six-hour window, however, exceptions will be made for emergency vehicles.
The current work schedule sees the road closed between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., with a scheduled traffic release midway through.
It also allows for single-lane alternating traffic during other periods of the day.
Work on the roughly 1.5 kilometre passage, and lone connector between Tofino/Ucluelet and the rest of Vancouver Island, is expected to wrap in the summer, with some final touches taking place in the fall.
The project was originally set for completion in mid-2020, however, a series of setbacks, including complications linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, delayed work.
On Jan. 22, 2020, blasting activities sent a large amount of rock onto the road, unexpectedly severing Tofino and Ucluelet’s lifeline to Vancouver Island.
A temporary bridge was installed to return access to the communities a few days later, however shortages of gas and fresh food stressed area residents.
Costs have increased as well, with latest projections estimating a $54 million price tag, up from the original $38.1 million.
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