Bamfield Road Remains Closed Due To Unsafe Conditions

The Province of B.C. is lending its expertise to Mosaic Forest Management as it works on plans to reopen the Bamfield Main Road, sections of which were rendered unsafe due to the Mt. Underwood wildfire.

“The Ministry of Transportation and Transit recognizes the importance of Bamfield Road to the Huu‑ay‑aht First Nation and area residents,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Transportation and Transit.

“There is substantial work necessary over the coming weeks and months ahead to reopen Bamfield Road. Ensuring the safety of the travelling public is the top priority, and the Province will continue to provide technical resources and support to Mosaic throughout this process.”

Initial engineering assessments have determined a section of the Bamfield Road is unsafe for all traffic, prompting Mosaic to close the route with a section of the road being defined as a No Work Zone by BC Wildfire Services.

Falling rocks, dangerous trees and a fire-damaged slope are presenting exceptionally challenging conditions, and there is still no timeline for reopening the road in its current configuration.

Currently, the detour route through to Youbou remains the only available alternative ground route.

The Ministry of Transportation and Transit is working with the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness and other partners, including Mosaic, to enhance the level of maintenance given increased public use during the detour.

Once Mosaic is given clearance from BC Wildfire Service to go back on the lands, additional geotechnical assessments can be completed, which will better position the company to determine when slope restoration efforts and road repairs can begin and will allow a timeline for this work to be established.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.