Alberni Valley and West Coast encourage people to limit travel

June 9, 2023

PORT ALBERNI – The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, City of Port Alberni, the District of Ucluelet, Tseshaht, Hupačasath, Tla-o-qui-aht, Huu-ay-aht, Uchucklesaht, Toquaht, and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ join together to thank tourists for NOT travelling to our communities at this time.

As fuel supplies are extremely limited, we are asking for support in limiting travel to essential purposes only. The safety of our residents is our primary concern, and we need to ensure our emergency services have adequate supply of fuel to continue delivering services.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has established an alternate route for as long as Highway 4 remains closed. The route takes traffic from Port Alberni through to Lake Cowichan via Bamfield using forest-service and privately owned industrial roads. It is intended for essential travel only, which includes food, fuel, and the movement of other consumer goods.

The delivery of food continues to our communities, although at a slower rate. We encourage residents to only purchase groceries as needed.

The ACRD Emergency Operations Centre is investigating alternative ways to transport fuel with support from the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.

Thank you for understanding and we look forward to welcoming visitors back to our beautiful region once efficient transport systems resume.

For more details and up-to-date information on the detour, refer to the Transportation and Infrastructure travel advisories or their Facebook page.

More information is also available at: www.acrd.bc.ca or www.facebook.com/AVEmergencyprogram or www.drivebc.ca , https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ or www.facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo Flight information: https://www.acrd.bc.ca/701 

For more information, please contact:

Heather Thomson

EOC Information Officer

250-206-5162

communications@acrd.bc.ca