The Skutz Falls Forest Service Road, which runs for about 10 kilometres south of Cowichan River Provincial Park, will be completely closed to all users from Sept. 12 to Oct. 6, 2016 to allow the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations to replace an aging bridge.

The existing 53-metre-long steel and wood bridge is 30 years old and spans the Cowichan River. It’s located at the zero-kilometre mark of the Skutz Falls Forest Service Road, immediately south of the junction of Mayo Road and Riverbottom Road.  

The bridge is being replaced to enhance public safety. The new, $561,000 bridge will have a steel girder frame and a concrete deck. It will also feature a 1.3-metre-wide walkway to allow visitors to more easily access recreational hiking trails within Cowichan River Provincial Park.

The entire length of the Skutz Falls Forest Service Road will be closed to traffic and a locked gate will restrict access at its eastern end. A small parking area north of the bridge, which is often used by park visitors, will also be closed to accommodate the construction project.

However, Cowichan River Provincial Park will remain open to walk-in visitors. All campgrounds and day-use areas within the park will operate as usual.