Wick Road will remain closed until at least the end of May as crews work on fixing a roughly five-metre-deep, two-metre-wide, sinkhole that opened up in January.
The Park has been unable to put its finger on exactly what caused the hole to open up, according to Pacific Rim National Park’s asset manager Jackie Godfrey.
“Engineers have examined the sinkhole and are unable to pinpoint a cause, but sinkholes are not uncommon in the region because of the combination of marine clay and large amounts of water underlying the area,” she said.
“Investigation into the sink hole included consultations with geo-technical engineers, environmental monitors, consultants and contractors. The hole has been filled with filter cloth and 6” rock material.”
She noted construction crews were already in the area as the Park has a number of improvement projects on the go.
“The repair cost for the sinkhole has been included in the overall project of removing the culvert where Sandhill Creek crosses Wick Road and the installation of a bridge,” she said.
“These investments in visitor infrastructure will ensure the quality and reliability of visitor facilities and continue to allow Canadians to connect with nature.”
Wick Road’s closure has nixed access to Wickaninnish Beach, the Kwisitis Visitor Centre and Feast House as well as the Shorepine Bog Trail, according to Godfrey.
She said visitors can still access South Florencia Bay and Half Moon Bay by trekking along a roughly 1.8 kilometre stretch of Willowbrae Trail.
“While Wick Road is closed, Long Beach at North Beach parking lot, Incinerator Rock, the Rainforest Trail, and Schooner Cove Trail are excellent alternatives,” she said.