Traffic delayed on Malahat at Goldstream for removal of loose rock

In January, safety improvements will be made to a 14.8 kilometre stretch of the Malahat from Goldstream Park to Split Rock View Point north of Langford. That work will include median barriers to separate traffic going in opposite directions.

Derek Spalding / Times Colonist
December 23, 2012

This rock slide delayed traffic for several hours near Goldstream Park on the Trans-Canada Highway on Saturday.

Update: Work to remove loose rock on the Malahat at Goldstream Park continued until early this morning, the Transportation Ministry said. Motorists were delayed for up to 20 minutes.

The work begins Thursday, Jan. 3 and is scheduled to continue until Thursday, Jan. 31, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., the Transportation Ministry says. Motorists can expect delays of up to 15 minutes.

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A section of the Malahat will be closed at 6 p.m. Sunday as workers remove any loose rock after Saturday’s rock slide.

B.C. Ministry of Transportation staff say they expect to close a portion of the Trans-Canada Highway near Goldstream Park for 20-minute intervals and they urge motorists to expect delays.

Traffic lined up for several hours Saturday afternoon and evening after a large slab of rock fell from a cliff onto the northbound lane.

The area was deemed safe Saturday night, after an engineer and geotechnical expert examined the face of the cliff where about 500 kilograms of rock fell. The slide occurred near the first curve heading into Goldstream Provincial Park, just north of Ice Cream Mountain.

Rock scalers will work from ropes over the slope, using pry bars to remove any loose material. A ministry spokesman said the timing of the closure is designed to minimize the impact because of fewer vehicles expected on the road at that time.

Motorists can check the DriveBC website for updates.

Emergency responders discovered the rock slide Saturday when they were responding to an unrelated call.

It was “very fortunate” that no one was hurt, Cpl. Antonio Hernandez of West Shore RCMP said. “Our members were en route on an unrelated matter and stumbled upon it.”

Vehicles were backed up for several kilometres in both directions. Motorists were restricted to single lanes of alternating traffic until the area was considered safe.