Kennedy Hill on Hwy. 4, seen here in early June, is nearing completion however additional closures are still required. (BC Government)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

more closures

Daytime closures returning for final stages of Hwy. 4 upgrades

Sep 16, 2022 | 9:49 AM

NANAIMO — The finish line is in sight, but substantial work remains at Kennedy Hill.

The roughly 1.5 kilometre stretch of Hwy. 4, east of Tofino/Ucluelet has been under construction since 2019 as crews work to improve the lone connection between those communities and the rest of Vancouver Island.

To speed through the remaining work, daytime closures are returning to give extended periods of vehicle-free time at the site.

Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 20, hourly closures will take place between 5 a.m. and 3 p.m., then again from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. with releases of traffic at the top of every hour.

Single lane alternating traffic will go from 3 p.m to 7 p.m. while the road will shut completely between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., excluding a release of any vehicles at 2 a.m.

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This schedule is expected to last through the fall, with the exception of Wednesday, Sept. 21 through Friday, Sept. 23 when no 2 a.m. release of traffic will occur.

Exceptions will be made for emergency vehicles.

Information on closures will be listed on the DriveBC website.

The provincial government said in a release the project is set for substantial completion this fall and ends an upgrade fraught with challenges.

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.

Upgrades to the approximately 1.5 kilometre stretch of Hwy. 4 at Kennedy Hill began in 2019. (BC Government)

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