The Vancouver Island communities of Tofino and Ucluelet found themselves without road access on Thursday, due to a “major road failure” on Highway 4.

DriveBC says the road is closed in both directions at Kennedy Lake due to the blockage.

The Ministry of Transportation said the failure was a result of an accident during construction on the highway.

“During a scheduled blast overnight at the Highway 4/Kennedy Hill Safety Improvements project, rockfall from the blast resulted in a failure of the road,” said a ministry spokesperson in an email.

“Ministry geotechnical engineers are on the way to the site to assess the slope and the condition of the road.”

Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne took to social media to say the road would be closed until 5 p.m.

The province is in the midst of a $38 million safety upgrade to the Kennedy Hill portion of Highway 4, for work on a 1.5 kilometre stretch adjacent to Kennedy Lake.

The work includes widening shoulders and adding a new rest area.

DriveBC had previously listed overnight road closures and delays along the very same stretch of road due to planned construction work.

Work was planned Thursday morning from 1-4 a.m. and 5-7 a.m.

DriveBC said it would provide its next update at noon on Thursday.

More to come…

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