Atmospheric river impacts on Coquihalla Canyon Park, and our plans for reopening

Coquihalla Canyon Park, home to the Othello Tunnels, experienced extensive damage during extreme rain and flooding in November 2021. Since then, the park has remained closed as structures such as bridges and tunnels have been compromised, rendering them unsafe for public access.

Read on to learn more about why the park remains closed and unsafe for public access, and the type of construction work we’ll need to complete to re-open the first part of the trail this summer.

What happened to the trail and tunnels during the atmospheric river?

The atmospheric river had a massive impact on the surrounding area. The community of Hope, along with many others, experienced profound effects. The park was significantly damaged when the Coquihalla River rose above its banks causing a lot of damage. The river flowed onto the historic Kettle Valley Railway, through the tunnels and washed out several facilities.

Safety rails and rockfall protection measures have been significantly damaged creating rockfall potential above and inside the tunnels.

What are the resulting risks to people?

Slopes above the tunnels and tunnel structures continue to be impacted by natural processes, such as melt-freeze cycles and rain. With our rockfall protection measures damaged, we’ve had several large rocks and boulders impact the typically travelled portions of the Kettle Valley Railway Trail. It is not safe to open trails or tunnels until rock stabilization has occurred.

The first bridge was also impacted by the sheer force of river debris, which weakened core foundational infrastructure. Engineers have determined that the fast-moving river eroded and weakened the foundation of the first bridge to the extent that it requires a full replacement. Before we can fully reopen the corridor safely, we will need to replace this bridge, and complete repairs to the second bridge.

What work needs to happen and when can we expect to have people back in the park?

The goal of the Coquihalla Canyon recovery project is to repair the facilities back to their pre-November 2021 condition, while adding climate resilient design principles wherever possible. Efforts have been made to plan and design infrastructure to better withstand impacts from future weather events similar to the 2021 storms. The changes include measures such as active mesh, drape mesh and shotcrete to decrease the risk of rockfall in a future weather event, redesigning the trail to reduce the likelihood of flood water and debris entering and damaging the tunnels, and replacing an existing two span bridge with a single span to reduce the impact from river erosion to a central pier.

Last May, we provided an update about an extensive engineering report that identified approximately 30 sites in the park that require repairs. Due to the extensive damage, we will be taking a phased approach to construction repairs so some portions of the park can be opened while remediation continues in other areas that remain closed.

Phase 1: Entrance to Tunnel 2

April – July 2024 (partial reopening planned in July 2024)

This spring, we will start phase one of the project that includes restoration of facilities and access from the park entrance and parking lot to the end of the second tunnel. It will include rock slope and tunnel maintenance, trail work that involves debris removal and resurfacing, and restoring and raising the trail surface to prevent similar flood damage in the future. BC Parks is working with First Nations and archaeology and cultural heritage specialists to avoid potential impacts to archaeological and heritage values during construction. This may impact the timing of some work.

Phase 2: Full trail repairs

2025 (full proposed reopening in 2025)

Construction for phase two is proposed to start in the fall of 2024, and continue into spring 2025 with a goal of fully reopening the park in summer 2025.It includes construction on all remaining rock slope and tunnel repairs, replacement of the first bridge with a single span bridge, and any remaining work not completed in phase one. The timing of the second phase is dependent on replacing the first bridge. BC Parks is working with fish biologists to confirm the timing of bridge repairs since work in the water between May and August would impact fish. If work in the water cannot be completed by summer 2025, a partial re-opening like 2024 would still be possible in summer 2025.

We’ll be keeping you updated throughout the entire Coquihalla Canyon recovery project, and we’re looking forward to having you back into a portion of the park this summer.