Coquihalla Canyon Park, Othello Tunnels to partly reopen
Coquihalla Canyon Park and the Othello Tunnels — major tourist attractions near Hope that were damaged during the catastrophic 2021 flooding — will partly reopen in July, the B.C. government announced Wednesday.
The government said construction work will soon begin to repair infrastructure damaged by the severe weather, with restoration work set to happen in two phases.
“Coquihalla Canyon Park and Othello Tunnels are extremely popular, and their spectacular beauty and unique features provide good reason,” said Environment Minister George Heyman in a statement.
“We know people have been waiting a long time for the park to safely open.
“The damage to this park from the atmospheric river was extensive, and we are designing and rebuilding more resilient infrastructure so it can better withstand the impacts of climate change.”
The first phase will focus on restoring facilities and access from the park entrance and parking lot to the end of Tunnel 2, according to a government news release Wednesday. The trail will be resurfaced and elevated to prevent similar damage from flooding.
The rest of the park is projected to open in 2025.
In November 2021, heavy rain and severe flooding damaged more than 30 sites in the park and all five of the historic Othello Tunnels, which were built in 1914 by the Canadian Pacific Railway. No longer used by the railway, they are part of the Kettle Valley Railway Trail.
The tunnels and park were closed because of hazards and damage from flooding and erosion while videos posted on social media at the time showed the tunnels filled with gravel, rocks and fallen trees.
The government says the total cost of the project is approximately $4.5 million and is mainly being funded with money from the federal disaster financial assistance fund.