There will be two full day-time closures starting this week to allow crews to remove approximately a dozen refrigerator-sized boulders on of Highway 4.
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. “Rock scaling is a complex and labour-intensive process, requiring work on cliff faces to safely remove dangerous rock material, and can be carried out only in daylight hours and during favourable weather conditions,” says the Province.
Weather permitting, the closures will take place:
- Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023 – 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m.
- Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023 – 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m.
In addition to the closures on Aug. 17 and 24, the highway will continue to be closed for two periods daily, from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., and from 1:30 p.m. until 5 p.m., until the work is completed.
Highway 4 is expected to fully reopen to two-way traffic at the end of August 2023, though it remains open to scheduled single-lane alternating traffic while crews continue to secure the steep bluffs above the highway following the destabilization caused by the Cameron Lake Bluff wildfire.
There will be no closures overnight or on weekends. The detour route between Lake Cowichan and Port Alberni remains open for travel. See the detour route details here.
