Citing safety concerns and the need for emergency stabilization after torrential rain washed out a portion of Chalet Road last month, the District of North Saanich has decided to shut down a large chunk of the road until spring.
The closing means no through traffic between Clayton Road at the south end and Tatlow Road at the north.
“The damage is significant,” said Ben Martin, director of infrastructure services for the district. “The roadway at the creek culvert crossing washed out, resulting in about 300 cubic metres of material loss into the downstream creek bed.”
Martin said on top of the roadway culvert failure, a section of the water main failed, requiring emergency repairs to restore service.
Until the road is reopened, the district is asking residents to use alternate routes and respect the presence of temporary fencing.
Emergency environmental mitigation work is expected to begin shortly. Martin said permanent repairs will take place between July and October, when there is the least risk to riparian areas. But he said there may be a late spring construction window if conditions allow for it.
Cost of the repairs and a redesign of the site will not be determined until the redesign project starts early next year.
North Saanich initially closed Chalet Road at Chalet Creek due to flooding and safety concerns during the extreme rainfall on Nov. 15.
Initial assessments of the site revealed stabilization work is required. Martin said that will involve flattening the current creek channel side walls from vertical to a stable slope, and armouring the creek channel base and sidewalls inlet/outlets with suitably graded blast rock.
The district said it will have environmental and archeological consultants work on the emergency construction response.
