The Malahat has reopened following a rockfall that closed the highway in both directions Friday afternoon.
For several hours a roughly three-kilometre stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway between Finlayson Arm Road and West Shore Parkway in Langford was at a standstill as crews worked to clear fallen rock. A geotechnical investigation is needed and an assessment is in progress.
Emcon Services Inc., the contractor tasked with provincial road maintenance on the southern Island, tweeted a rockfall in Goldstream Provincial Park had closed the roadway just after 1:30 p.m. At 2 p.m. they posted an update noting the closure had been extended to both directions. Shortly before 3 p.m., they said they were coordinating with emergency services to get a patient critically injured in a separate incident through the scene. By 3:30 p.m., the area was fully open, but drivers were told to expect delays as traffic got moving.
**UPDATE** We are almost ready to open the #BCHwy1 @ Finlayson Arm Rd, coordinating with @BCAmbulance to get a patient in critical condition through the site safely before we open. Thanks for your continued patience. @DriveBC_VI #yyjtraffic https://t.co/EOGkoesrwU
— Emcon Services Inc., South Island Division (@EmconSouthVI) March 5, 2021
The Sooke School District also tweeted to notify people that buses would be delayed by up to 30 minutes, but students would be kept safe at school until buses could get to them.
Earlier in the day, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., that section of the highway had been closed for intermittent closures for rock scaling work. The Ministry of Transporation and Infrastructure tweeted a video of the scheduled work shortly before 11 a.m., noting traffic was moving again after the final clean up.
Final cleanup after this morning's rock scaling work on the #Malahat.
Traffic is moving again on #BCHwy1. Thanks everyone for your patience!#yyjtraffic pic.twitter.com/8L0irbxYgZ— BC Transportation (@TranBC) March 5, 2021
READ MORE: Rock work closes Highway 1 in Langford for spurts
That work comes after traffic in the area was halted in both directions on Feb. 28 for a rockslide. A rockfall in the park also caused delays late into the night on Jan. 12.
ALSO READ: Malahat closed an average of once per month, says Ministry of Transportation
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A rockfall closes Finlayson Arm Road and West Shore Parkway on Friday (March 5) afternoon. (Twitter/BC Transportation)
