Prince George-based Enviro-Ex Contracting Ltd. has been awarded a $37.7-million contract to rebuild and realign a portion of West Fraser Road south of Quesnel that was washed out during flooding in spring 2018.
Work is to begin next month, the provincial government said, and will include a two-lane bridge over Narcosli Creek, 5.6 kilometres of paved two-lane road will be constructed on a new alignment on the east side of the creek.
Scheduled for completion by fall 2023, the section will bypass the active slide areas along the washed-out portions.
?Esdilagh First Nation has an agreement with the ministry to clear the site in preparation for major road construction. The logging works underway began in February.
As well, the banks of Narcosli Creek will be protected with riprap (large rocks) to prevent further damage from the coming spring freshet, and that work is underway through hired local equipment.
In April 2018, high water from the spring freshet caused Narcosli Creek to erode five sections of West Fraser Road on the west side of the Fraser River, about 17 kilometres south of Quesnel. The road had to be closed due to the severe damage.
Up to 150 vehicles a day normally use West Fraser Road to access the ?Esdilagh First Nation community, ranches, logging activities, farming lands and local residences. Since the washout, people have used a detour route via the Garner and Webster Lake road system, which has added significant travel time.
Upon completion of the project, Emergency Management BC will submit a claim to the federal government for partial reimbursement through Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements.
