After plans for a July opening fell through, the partial reopening for the Othello Tunnels will finally take place during the week of Aug.19, says BC Parks.
"We expect the first portion of the park (Phase 1) to open the week of Aug. 19," BC Parks said in their latest update. "Midway through the project, we discovered a higher than expected amount of unstable rock that needed to be removed above the trail. More rigorous stabilization work is required within and outside the tunnels to make sure the trail is safe for visitors.
"We appreciate people’s understanding and patience through this construction project, as we recognize there have been some challenges."
According to BC Parks, phase one of the construction/repairs of the Coquihalla Canyon Park (where the tunnels are located) is nearing completion. Provided that no further delays occur, two of the three tunnels will be open to the public.
In June, media were told that restoration work had been taking longer due to the significant damage and risks posed to the public. Restoration was also quite complicated due to the challenges of doing repairs in the area, the government said.
Restoration work began in April with the province understanding that restoration of the entire area would not be complete by the end of the year. On June 20, the province announced that the tunnels would partially reopen sometime in July.
However, due to the amount of restoration still needed and the new challenges encountered, in making the trails safe for the public, the reopening was further delayed to mid-August (though a specific date wasn't given at the time).
The rest of the park is planned to be opened in 2025.
The public is also encouraged to keep checking bcparks.ca for the latest information before making travel plans.
