West Fraser Road Flood Recovery
News Release
December 17, 2020
Tender issued for project to rebuild West Fraser Road
A 5.6-kilometre section will bypass the active slide areas along the section of West Fraser Road that washed out in 2018. The new alignment, a two-lane paved road, will be on the east side of Narcosli Creek.
In April 2018, high water levels from the spring freshet caused Narcosli Creek to erode five sections of the West Fraser Road, on the west side of the Fraser River, approximately 17 km south of Quesnel.
The damage was severe and the road had to be closed with damage spread over a three-kilometre section as follows:
- At the north end of the 3 km section, 250 metres of road embankment washed out
- Near the north end of the 3 km section, 100 metres of road embankment washed out
- North of the Narcosli Bridge, a 100 metre section of road is washed out
- At the Narcosli Bridge, the north side road embankment and rip-rap was washed out and eliminated the road and bridge connection
- At the switchback at Deep Creek Hill, the road embankment washed out for a length of 100 metres and another section of road embankment has slid and/or collapsed
Up to 150 vehicles per day normally use West Fraser Road to access First Nation communities, ranches, logging activities, farming lands and local residences.
A detour route is in place via Garner Road and Webster Lake Road. This two-lane gravel road adds 17 km in distance and between 20 and 45 minutes in travel time for a one-way trip depending on conditions.
The posted speed limit is 70 km/hour on Garner Road and 60 km/hour on Webster Road. Regular CVSE patrols and inspections are being carried out on commercial vehicles to ensure continued safety.
Project Cost
The project is estimated to cost $103.4 million.
Status
Design phase complete. The project has been tendered.
Project Benefits
This project will benefit the community by:
- Providing a safer, more reliable route
- Reducing travel time through the elimination of the 17-km detour route
Schedule
- Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2021 and finish in 2023
Public Consultation
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