Highway 19A has been reopened following a daylong closure north of Qualicum Beach, but motorists should plan for delays as repairs continue through Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 21.
DriveBC reported Tuesday morning that the road will be reduced to single-lane, alternating traffic through 4 p.m. Nov. 21, while construction continues at the site of Sunday afternoon’s road washout just north of Cook Creek Road.
The Ministry of Transporation had initially announced a Tuesday morning highway closure for paving, but that was amended to the single-lane opening in an update by DriveBC at 7:48 a.m.
The impacted stretch of highway is just north of Cook Creek Road, between Bowser and Fanny Bay. Motorists who wish to avoid the area may detour to Highway 19 northbound at Cook Creek Road and southbound at Buckley Bay.
The highway was originally closed when a washout occurred at a culvert at approximately 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, following a day of heavy rainfall in the region. The washout created two large cuts in the bank, on either side of the culvert, and left some pavement buckled.
According to DriveBC, the road was closed in both directions 500 metres north of Cook Creek Road.
The MOT said in a written news release issued Nov. 20 that contract crews were at the site throughout Monday, beginning “at first light” for an assessment of the damage and later conducting what were described as “temporary repairs” to restore the stretch of road to driveable condition.
Ministry staff will continue to monitor the culvert “very closely” throughout the winter, and will undertake a permanent repair involving replacement of the culvert next spring or summer, the release stated.
Updates will continue to be provided at www.DriveBC.
