Ditidaht First Nation is warning motorists of a five-foot-wide hole on Carmanah Mainline near the Nitinaht Lake Hatchery.
The site is marked with traffic cones, but the notice issued Sunday by the First Nation reads that the hole “necessitates immediate attention” for the dangers that it poses to motorists.
“Responsible authorities for the area are being duly notified,” reads the notice. “The sinkhole demands vigilance from all road users. The gravel roads in the area require cautious navigation, and motorists are urged to exercise extreme care while driving.
“It is imperative that all travelers exercise caution and adhere to safety protocols,” the notice continued.
This isn’t the first hole for Carmanah Mainline this year. In February, an opening three feet wide and four feet deep was discovered along Carmanah Main after a culvert collapsed near the Ditidaht First Nation community at Nitinaht Lake. A temporary culvert was installed within hours.
The First Nation’s members depend on Carmanah Mainline, part of a series of logging roads extending from Port Alberni to Duncan, to reach the community.
The chief and council and Ditidaht First Nation is calling on the provincial government to “address road improvements, enhance road safety measures, and establish a routine inspection and maintenance schedules.”
Last summer, traffic between the east and west coasts of the Island was rerouted along Bamfield Road to Carmanah Mainline when Highway 4 was closed due to the Cameron Bluffs wildfire.
Alexandra Mehl is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter with Ha-Shilth-Sa. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
