Starting next spring, Parksville Qualicum Beach residents travelling to Tofino and Ucluelet may want to leave a bit of extra travel time.
Upgrades to Highway 4 will begin spring of 2018 and are expected to last about two years.
Amarjeet Sohi, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Todd Stone, B.C. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, announced an agreement to jointly fund upgrades to a stretch of the Pacific Rim Highway about 14 kilometres east of the Ucluelet-Tofino junction near Kennedy Lake. The total estimated eligible costs of the project are $27 million.
The Government of Canada will provide up to $13.5 million toward this project through the Provincial Territorial Infrastructure Component – National and Regional Projects and the Government of British Columbia will be contributing $13.5 million toward the eligible costs and will also be responsible for any remaining costs towards the $30-million estimated project total, such as internal costs or costs incurred before federal project approval.
The project will widen and straighten a 1.5-kilometre stretch of highway presently known for its 30-km/h speed advisory, sharp curves and poor sightlines.Highway 4 is the longest east-west highway on Vancouver Island, and is the only road linking the tourism destination communities of Tofino and Ucluelet, and the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve to the rest of Vancouver Island.
Investing in modern, safe and efficient roadways is critical to keeping residents connected to surrounding communities, helping businesses efficiently move their goods, and building a strong economic future for all Canadians.
— Submitted by the Government of Canada
