Work on $31-million Bamfield Road upgrades to begin next year

Franklin River Road and Bamfield Road are lifelines for communities such as Bamfield and several First Nations communities on the west coast.

However, the gravel road is considered dangerous because it’s so often in such bad shape, full of potholes and washouts, or extremely dusty in the summer.

“The road is dangerous and at least three deaths of members of our community can be attributed to dusty conditions,” said Huu-ay-aht Chief Robert Dennis.

The road has claimed many lives over the years, most notably in September 2019 when two University of Victoria students were killed when the bus they were in rolled off the soft shoulder in a rainstorm en route to the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre.

“I can certainly attest to what everybody says about the safety issues on this road, the fact that people want to feel safe and secure,” added Mid Island-Pacific Rim MLA, Josie Osborne.

The province has committed to improving the road since the crash and on Monday, a $30.7-million upgrade pledge was made official in a gravel pit near Bamfield.

“To open up this road to make it safe is a huge benefit to both of our communities,” said Bob Beckett, Area A director for the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District.

The money will see the 77-kilometres of bumpy, windy, gravel road between Bamfield and Port Alberni upgrades with a fresh new seal coat in 2022 and then 15 kilometres of the road will be paved in 2023.

New safety barriers will also be installed in various locations and gravel work is expected to begin in April 2022.

The B.C. government is contributing $25.7 million while the Huu-ay-aht First Nation is contributing $5 million.

“Steep hills, bridge approaches, intersections, anywhere there’s a lot of wear and tear from the trucks will be paved,” said project manager Kevin Gordon.

The Huu-ay-aht First Nation says it will benefit in many ways. About 85 per cent of its people live away from home and many have said they won’t return until the road is improved.

There will also be economic opportunities in areas like tourism and industry.

“This is a pathway to whatever we want it to be now so that’s how I look at it. It’s really important to have a wide scope on what this road can mean,” said Chief Dennis. “Hundreds of people already come out to visit our territory and now it could mean thousands.”

He said the project is another sign of true reconciliation between the province and indigenous people.

On Monday, a delegation of provincial and regional district officials marked the official beginning of safety upgrades and improvements along Bamfield Road. (Dean Stoltz/CHEK News)

The 77-kilometre bumpy, windy, gravel road between Bamfield and Port Alberni will be upgraded with a fresh new seal coat in 2022 while 15 kilometres of the road will be paved in 2023. (Dean Stoltz/CHEK News)

dstoltz@cheknews.ca

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