Image Credit: Flickr / Government of B.C.
Road Reconstruction

Contract awarded for West Fraser Road rebuild near Quesnel

Mar 11, 2021 | 9:39 AM

QUESNEL — British Columbia’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has awarded a contract to rebuild and realign the washed-out portion of West Fraser Road.

The $37.7 million contract will go to Prince George company Enviro-Ex Contracting Ltd.

“Along with a new 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,” says the ministry.

“When completed, the new West Fraser Road will bypass the active slide areas along the washed-out portions and improve the safety and efficiency of the roadway. Construction is anticipated to begin in April 2021 and finish in fall 2023.”

?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 2021. 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.

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.

Flooding washed out Fraser Road in spring 2018.