Following consultation with local residents, tourism operators and local businesses, the daytime closure schedule will remain in place for the Highway 4 – Kennedy Hill Improvement Project.

Weekday closures from 5-7 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. are expected to continue through winter and into spring. Outside of these times and all day on weekends, traffic queues will be released and fully cleared at the top of the hour one direction at a time via single-lane alternating traffic. This will be followed by approximately 30- to 45-minute closures to accommodate work.

Blasting is limited to daylight hours due to continuing safety and predictability issues with the outer face of the bluffs. Local residents have confirmed that maintaining the current daytime closure schedule impacts daily routines, businesses and tourism operations the least.

To further limit disruptions for travellers during the holiday season, no extended closures will occur between Dec. 18, 2021, and Jan. 3, 2022, with single-lane alternating traffic operating during that period. The daytime closure schedule will restart on Jan. 4, 2022.

Daytime closures have been in place since 2020 to allow crews to safely undertake some of the most complex blasting on the project. The blasting is necessary to widen and straighten the highway along the high rock bluffs beside Kennedy Lake.

Once complete, the Highway 4 - Kennedy Hill Safety Improvement Project will create a safer and more reliable connection between Port Alberni and the west coast of Vancouver Island. The project will benefit the surrounding communities by stimulating economic development and tourism opportunities that rely on this vital corridor.

The ministry thanks area residents and other travellers who rely on the highway for their patience during the construction period.

Quick Facts:

• Improved drainage ditches and rock fall protection measures, along with wider shoulders will improve safety on the highway, including drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
• The project will benefit commercial and recreational vehicles with a reduced road grade and elimination of the overhanging rock. This will make the drive safer and easier to navigate, especially for larger vehicles.
• The new rest area and viewpoint will be a benefit to area tourism.

Learn More:

To listen to the travel information hotline message, updated daily during construction, call: 1 855 451-7152

For the most up-to-date information before travel, visit www.drivebc.ca
Follow @DriveBC and #BCHwy4 on Twitter.

General project information and traffic schedules are available here: www.gov.bc.ca/highway4kennedyhill

Visit the project page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eac.bc.ca.kennedy.hill/

For more information on the Emergency Support Hubs for commercial truck drivers and RVs and campers, contact Pacific Rim National Park Reserve at: 250 726-3524