Nearly three years after November 2021’s atmospheric river, an important portion of Canal Road on Pender Island is being repaired permanently.
The road experienced a “dip slide,” meaning the heavy rain and flooding caused the narrow road to slant off down the slope.
The Province says the site of the dipslide is approximately 2.5 kilometres east of the Pender Canal Bridge, which is critical because it connects the north island to the south island.
Temporary measures have been taken to make the road safer since 2021, however it has remained under single lane alternating traffic conditions with timed indicators at either side for over a year.
The work being done on the road now will include clearing, rock blasting, offloading the existing slide, realigning the road onto solid bedrock, upsizing the existing culvert and installing a reinforced retaining wall.
BC’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation says it will be necessary to also build a temporary barge-landing facility at Boundary Passage Drive to transport equipment and materials.
“Residents and visitors can expect to see initial work mobilizing this week, with single-lane-alternating traffic in place for the duration of the project,” the Province said in a media release.
“For more complex work, some temporary longer road closures may be needed at off-peak travel times.”
The Province says that drivers should plan for delays along this route throughout the project. Road closures will be occurring that may last as long as four hours between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
“Drivers are reminded to drive for the conditions, observe construction-zone speed limits and follow the direction of traffic-control signs and personnel,” said the Province.
