BC Hydro has begun trail re-routing for upgrades to the Puntledge River spillway gate.

Recreation users who walk past the south side of the Comox Dam will be seeing some trail changes. BC Hydro says the trail will be rerouted away from the river and then loop back to the existing system to allow for trail continuity during upcoming upgrades to the hydroelectric facilities.

BC Hydro’s Stephen Watson says they have planned upgrades to the Comox Dam’s control building, backup power supply, and upgrades to the two spillway gates, with work beginning this fall and lasting about two years.

Watson says the trail goes right through an area that will become a construction zone, so they’ve developed a short detour that allows for the public to continue to safely connect to upstream or downstream trails during construction.

Work should begin this week and wrap by September, depending on weather.