Residents of Horsefly, Likely, and neighbouring communities are advised that the Horsefly-Likely Forest Service Road (Ditch Road) will be open to local traffic, effective 5:00 p.m., June 12, 2015.

Ditch Road has been closed in the interest of public safety since August 6, 2014, following the Mount Polley tailings pond breach. The presence of heavy industrial equipment working in the area to reclaim the breach and Hazeltine Creek made it necessary to do so. 

A future temporary closure (tentatively August-September 2015) will be required on the Ditch Road to accommodate road re-construction and bridge installation at Hazeltine Creek. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operation staff are working with Mount Polley Mining Corporation to determine the final location of any bridges crossing Hazeltine Creek. 

The Horsefly-Gavin Forest Service Road (Gavin Lake Road) remains closed to the public from kilometre 12 to kilometre 22.

Polley Lake and Raft Creek recreation sites were affected by the Mount Polley breach and will also be open for public use, effective 5:00 p.m., June 12. The public is reminded that the two recreation sites have not been maintained since August 2014. Recreation Sites and Trails BC staff expect to be able to have the sites inspected and maintained the week of June 22, 2015.

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261