Updates
Huu-ay-aht is making history with Bamfield Road Project
Huu-ay-aht First Nations has worked for several decades to bring significant upgrades to Bamfield Main. In September 2020, the Province of B.C. announced they would partner with Huu-ay-aht to bring these upgrades to reality.
Since this announcement, Huu-ay-aht has been involved in a lot of behind the scenes work to finalize how this project will be carried out.
Huu-ay-aht First Nations is making history in British Columbia as it will be the first Indigenous community to lead a road infrastructure project of this size. The Province will contribute $25.7 million and Huu-ay-aht will fund the remaining $5 million of the Bamfield Main Safety Improvements Project, and Huu-ay-aht will manage the project for the next three years.
Huu-ay-aht has finalized several steps necessary before work can begin on the road. Throughout the length of the project, Huu-ay-aht will act in accordance with its laws and will ensure the project is contracted through a bidding process. The field study was carried out in the summer and fall of 2020 so that the project’s design work would be ready once the project was announced. The Nation has hired Parsons to manage the project on behalf of the Nation.
The next step will be the geotechnical investigation, followed by the design phases. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2021 and continue until 2023 when the projects is scheduled for completion.
Huu-ay-aht will ensure that throughout the project job shadowing, employment, and training opportunities will be made available for Huu-ay-aht citizens. If you would like more information, please contact Brent Ronning, Education, Employment and Training Manager for Huu-ay-aht First Nations, at brent.r@huuayaht.org.
Huu-ay-aht is committed to keeping the lines of communication open throughout this project. We will be holding regular community updates to keep people up to date with progress and ensure they know what it planned. Once these meetings are set up, Huu-ay-aht will share that information with citizens and the public. Information will also be available at http://www.huuayaht.org.
This is an exciting project for everyone involved and it will make the corridor between Bamfield and Port Alberni safe for all users. For the Bamfield Main Safety Improvements Project to be a success, we must all work together. Input from the users is key to ensuring the updates made reflect what is needed on the road. To achieve this, the project managers are asking regular users of Bamfield Main to let them know about problem areas and key upgrades they believe are necessary. Your input will ensure the upgrades reflect what is needed to guarantee a safer road in the future.
If you have any questions or would like to share your knowledge of the road, please contact Heather Thomson, Communications Manager for Huu-ay-aht First Nations, at heather.t@huuayaht.org.