South Pender Island residents are relieved that fuel delivery trucks will be able to return to their area after weeks of worry about being unable to heat their homes.
“There’s a big party going on in front of my house,” joked South Pender Island trustee Steve Wright. “People are certainly relieved that they can get propane and heating oil and all that stuff down there.”
A weight restriction placed on Canal Road, the only access road for South Pender Island, that prohibited vehicles over 5,000 kilograms was lifted Thursday morning. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure implemented the weight restriction after November’s catastrophic atmospheric river and subsequent flooding caused movement under the already deteriorating road.
The ministry said in a statement Thursday contractors have been reviewing rain gauges daily and the weight restriction could be lifted because rainfall over the past three days has been less than limits set by a geotechnical engineer.
The road conditions are monitored regularly and could be reinstated, the ministry said, advising drivers to check the Drive B.C. website for updates.
Kyle Holdom, acting general manager and accountant for Poets Cove Resort and Spa, said the mood at the resort was “rejoiceful” Thursday.
The resort goes through about 30,000 litres of propane in a month for heating, hot water, kitchen operations, laundry and guest fireplaces, and the business was getting by on smaller, more expensive deliveries that were not sustainable in the long term. Management worried they might have to close, laying off up to 50 people — including 15 to 20 who would lose their staff housing — if the road problems persisted.
“Definitely a breath of fresh air that we’re not stressing about this every single minute of every day,” Holdom said. “It’s the first time we’ve been able to say business as usual in about a month.”
South Pender resident John Jones, who uses oil to heat his home and had started rationing his use, said he was feeling mixed emotions.
“Relief in one sense and caution in another, because I don’t know how long it will last,” he said.
His next oil delivery is expected in February or early March, and he’s hoping the road will be unrestricted when it matters most for him.
Canal Road continues to be limited to a single lane of alternating traffic.
Repairs are expected to be complete by next fall.
regan-elliott@timescolonist.com
