A rainfall warning continues to be in effect for west Vancouver island as a storm is expected to bring up to 150 millimetres of rain to the area.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said Highway 4, which connects most of the island to places like Tofino and Ucluelet, was closed 14km east of the southern boundary to Pacific Rim National Park just after 11 a.m. due to “proactive work by the Kennedy Hill project contractor.”
“With recent heavy rains, the contractor is proactively doing erosion control and rock scaling,” the ministry said. Drive BC had reported a washout at that location but the ministry said there was no washout.
Driving through #BCHwy4’s Kennedy Hill project this morning was like driving up a creek bed under a fully running fire hose. Full of admiration for the crews & flaggers. Please be patient and take it easy, everyone. #staysafe #BCStorm #tofino @tranbc pic.twitter.com/imhpUCCZJ0
— Josie Osborne (@Josie_Osborne) December 18, 2019
Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne said on Twitter the driving conditions on Highway 4 were ” like driving up a creek bed under a fully running fire hose” on Wednesday morning.
READ MORE: Repairs following washout on Highway 4 to go into January
The weather agency said a strong Pacific frontal system over Vancouver Island is slowly moving southward Wednesday. The storm is bringing widespread heavy rainfall to the west coast of Vancouver Island. For Tofino and communities further north such as Zeballos and Tahsis, heavy rain has been occurring for the past 24 hours. As the front begins to move southward early today, heavy rain will start to impact communities south of Tofino as well.
Environment Canada is warning the rain could cause flash floods and pools of water on the road and are warning drivers to slow down.
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