Road access across the Campbell River area’s John Hart Dam will be closed for about six years starting July 10, at 8 a.m., to enable construction of important seismic upgrades to the dam.
Brewster Lake Road closure signage will be placed in various areas to advise of the change. During the closure the detour route is Highway 19.
The six-year road closure is required for the John Hart Dam Seismic Upgrade Project. The road across the dam was closed for about three years from 2015 to 2018 during the John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project.
The key components of the seismic upgrade project are new water seepage barriers and stability improvements to the earthfill dams, new spillway gates and hoist systems, and a new overflow spillway on the main concrete dam.
Unlike other social and environmental elements of the project that may be mitigated or enhanced, there are no other viable road detour alternatives than using Highway 19 to loop around.
“We appreciate peoples’ understanding of the need for the closure to allow us to complete this important seismic upgrade work,” said BC Hydro spokesperson Stephen Watson. “The road is planned to re-open in summer 2029 and once the project is finished by 2030, the John Hart Dam will be able to withstand a major earthquake event and also be able to safely pass water downstream after the event has taken place.
You can follow the project along with news, updates and regular construction reports at www.majorprojects.ca.