Large chunks of rock need to be removed from Hwy. 4 at Cameron Lake, prompting full day closures for each of the next two Thursday's. (BC Government)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

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Pair of full day closures coming to Hwy. 4 at Cameron Lake

Aug 15, 2023 | 9:23 AM

PARKSVILLE — Travellers along a key east-west corridor on central Vancouver Island are facing more challenges.

In order to clear approximately a dozen large, refrigerator-sized boulders from Hwy. 4 at Cameron Lake, the ministry of transportation has said they will close the road from 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday, Aug 17 and Thursday, Aug. 24.

“[This is] part of the rock-scaling work being done at Angel Rock, which has proved to be the most challenging segment of the bluff,” the ministry’s statement read. “Rock scaling is a complex and labour-intensive process, requiring work on cliff faces to safely remove dangerous rock material.

The nature of the work limits it to daytime and fair-weather conditions.

Initially scheduled to fully re-open by mid-August, the province now says Hwy. 4 is “now expected” to re-open by month’s end.

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Single-lane alternating traffic persists at the site with the exception of two work windows in the morning and afternoon on weekdays.

Damage to the area was a result of the Cameron Bluffs wildfire which sparked in early June and saw rock and other debris fall onto the road.

Further issues arose during high wind events, along with rainfall last week.

Each unplanned closure has delayed a full re-opening.

“To date, crews working on slope stabilization following the Cameron Lake Bluffs fire have removed approximately 200 dangerous trees and 600 tonnes of rock-scaling debris,” the province said. “Further work includes installing 1.2 kilometres of barrier and rock fencing.”

A roughly four-hour detour between Lake Cowichan and Port Alberni remains open for use

Travellers are advised to check road conditions prior to heading through the area through the DriveBC website.

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