Route planning for the Pacific Traverse Trail has been amended and Parks Canada is aiming to have a construction contract awarded by the end of August 2017.
At a public information session held in Hitacu on June 22, guests learned that, to build the new 25-kilometre multi-use trail, approximately 1,200-1,500 trees will need to be removed from the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and Nuu-chah-nulth land.
“A lot of the [felled trees] are going back to the our Nations to utilize for traditional First Nations carvings. Some of them will also be going back into the trail,” Park Superintendent Karen Haugen told the Westerly News.
“We have been working with our First Nations to see what timber they would need.
“They would identify it and we would load it up and bring it to their communities.”
Haugen said the Park is looking at re-purposing some of the cedar timber as handrails on bridges and maybe even for benches. Featuring totem poles along the route is also being discussed with local First Nations.
“We’re trying to utilize that timber that’s coming out in the best way,” Haugen said.
PRNPR hired forestry consultants during the route planning process to flag old growth trees. The re-aligned trail has been mapped to go around old growth trees and culturally sensitive areas.
“Old growth is so important both to the First Nations and to the wildlife. It was very crucial to highlight where those old growth forests were and not disrupting that,” said Haugen.
“There are areas within the trail that are right abutted against the highway and that’s for the protection of the old growth species at risk, cultural resources and wildlife.”
In some cases, Haugen said the path was diverted to avoid high bear dens area and a section where there was a lot of wolf activity.
A 5.2-metre wide path needs to be cleared to accommodate the 3.2-metre wide paved bike path, with one metre wide shoulders on each side.
The line of the trail is drawn on the south side of highway 4, but will cross to the north side of the highway so it can connect to Tofino’s multi-use path.
Pedestrian activated flashing amber lights will be installed at that junction.
Highway 4 is being widened near the Tofino-Long Beach Airport vicinity to create width for trail on the south side.
Funding for the new trail was allotted by the Liberal government in April 2016 to the tune of $17.7 million.
“I really see it connecting,” said Haugen. “It’s a safe route to give people from one part of this region to the other and a real environmental way they can really understand the connection that they have to the land.”
Summer 2020 is when the trail is projected to be officially open to the public.
Anyone with questions about the PTT is encouraged to contact project liaison Jessie Hannigan at: 250-726-7165 extension 502.