A contractor will be installing a pair of retaining walls to prevent debris from continually forming on the stairs on the ravine section of Benson Creek Falls Regional Park. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

trail disruption

Maintenance work temporarily closes portion of Benson Creek Falls Regional Park

Nov 29, 2023 | 5:35 AM

NANAIMO — Access will be closed for the ravine section of Benson Creek Falls Regional Park (BCFRP) to address an ongoing embankment erosion issue.

Amy Gore, superintendent of parks, planning, research and development for the Regional District of Nanaimo, said both sets of stairs leading to the bridge spanning Benson Creek will be closed between Wednesday, Nov. 29 and Dec. 8.

“After we installed the box steps down in the ravine area we noticed that there was a lot of erosion and shale that kept falling onto the stairs,” Gore told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Debris seen here during a Tuesday, Nov 28 site visit highlights the erosion issue the RDN aims to address. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Gore emphasized the erosion issue is not a safety concern, but rather a matter of keeping the trail clear of debris collecting on the stairs.

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She said a pair of retaining walls, one on each side of the ravine, will be installed.

The walls will be made up of Mechanically Stabilized Earth composite matter, which will generate vegetative growth, Gore noted.

“It was limiting access on the stairs for users, the work is to retain that material so it doesn’t continue to fall on the stairs.”

Crews will use a helicopter to drop materials for the retaining wall into the ravine. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Gore said their contractor will use a helicopter to drop supplies in the area .

“We felt that it was best just to close the entire ravine area so the contractors can manage the work better.”

A closed ravine means trail users will not be able to access Ammonite Falls from the Weigles Rd. parking lot trailhead during the work period.

In June 2021 stairs to replace steep narrow switchback trails down a ravine and a 90 foot long aluminum bridge spanning Benson Creek were installed.

Additional stairs and rails on the ravine section of BCRFP were added to provide increased safety the following year.

Gore said the enhancements have been well received to greatly enhance safer and enhanced accessibility to the park.

In 2022 new stairs and a viewing platform to popular nearby Ammonite Falls was opened to the public.

Access to Ammonite Falls will only be available via the Creekside Place. parking lot access area between Nov. 28 and Dec. 8 (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes