Limited parking on both sides of Hwy. 4 through MacMillan Provincial Park has led to increased safety concerns for both park users and motorists. (B.C. Government/Flickr)

By Ian Holmes

road work

Safety enhancements to begin for Cathedral Grove stretch of Hwy. 4

Jun 20, 2022 | 5:28 AM

PARKSVILLE — While anticipated big ticket improvements aren’t scheduled imminently, work has begun to improve safety through the often congested Cathedral Grove section of Hwy. 4.

A statement from the ministry of transportation and infrastructure (MOTI) outlined a variety of interim highway safety measures through the busy stretch taking place between Monday, June 20 and Thursday, June 30, which will be done during the evenings to minimize disruptions.

Mainroad Mid-Island Contracting crews are installing median pickets to restrict left turn movements which are already prohibited through existing signage.

Temporary rumble strips to be in place during the spring and summer to warn motorists of the reduced speed limit through the area, while several new signs discouraging U-turns will also be added.

Improving driver awareness of the lower speed limit through MacMillan Provincial Park with new signage installed, the statement read.

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Single-lane alternating traffic is expected during the work.

Drivers are reminded to obey signage, traffic control personnel and slow down.

A series of modest safety enhancements in recent years on Highway 4 passing through MacMillan Provincial Park are expected to lead to more substantive upgrades in the future, however it’s unclear when that will happen.

“The ministry is continuing to explore long-term safety improvement options for the Highway 4 corridor through MacMillan Provincial Park, working with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy as well as local stakeholders,” the statement noted.

The MOTI response to questions by NanaimoNewsNOW didn’t specify when the long-term safety upgrades would maternalize.

A two-phase public consultation process which concluded nearly three years ago was held to discuss a variety of ways to improve safety for pedestrians and motorists through Cathedral Grove.

Strong support for the concept of a pedestrian overpass and additional parking were made by the public during the engagement sessions.

Three potential highway by-pass routes around Cathedral Grove were acknowledged by the province as possibilities during the engagement process, however MOTI stated the by-pass concepts all carried environmental impacts and logistical challenges.

Leading up to the pandemic the province estimated in the range of 500,000 people visited Cathedral Grove annually to view the area’s world renowned old growth ecosystem viewable from a trail network straddling both sides of Hwy. 4.

Cathedral Grove at MacMillan Provincial park is home to some of the world’s largest and oldest Douglas-fir trees.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes