Bamfield Road

[Thunder21]

Out of curiosity have you guys seen or been on the brenner bypass? It’s pretty steep and not the best road. I agree a pilot a couple times a day would be the best option but if they just opened it up to the public I’d expect a few majors.

 

[Dogbreath]

Bamfield Main Road to reopen on Oct. 24, says province​

Signs are pictured along Bamfield Main Road on Oct. 5, 2025. (CHEK News)

The B.C. government says it’s planning to reopen Bamfield Main Road on Oct. 24, after the route connecting Bamfield to Port Alberni closed in August due to the Mount Underwood wildfire.

The province says it’s made “significant progress” in the area over the past few weeks, including removing more than 1,000 dangerous trees near the roadway.

It says it also discovered a sinkhole within the road base caused by “burning organic material” that will be repaired once all of the dangerous trees have been removed.

Bamfield Road was first closed to traffic on Aug. 11 due to the Mount Underwood wildfire, and the province says while it’s on track to reopen the road some two months later on Oct. 24, a few short closures will still be required afterwards to complete ongoing work.

Locals frustrated with closure​

This past weekend, RCMP were called to the Bamfield Main Road as locals walked through the roadblocks demanding that the road be reopened and taking photos of what appeared to be undamaged sections of the road.

“I just have zero trust in the system that’s being implemented at the moment,” said Bamfield business owner Colin McLennan at the time.

READ & WATCH: RCMP called as Bamfield residents defy roadblocks that ‘shut the town down’

A roughly 1.5-kilometre section of the road is blocked off, and on the weekend the province said that much of its work was taking place in areas adjacent to the road, and not on the road itself.

On Thursday, the province said travellers should continue using the Youbou detour around Bamfield Main Road, though it warned the detour was an industrial road with “variable surface conditions” and that caution should be used.

“…Adjust speeds and avoid travel at night if unfamiliar with the route,” the province noted.

New road closure protocols underway​

The B.C. government added that it will be installing a new weather station in the area to help monitor wind and rain levels, which can be used when deciding if the road should be temporarily closed in the future for severe weather.

The province say it’s also working on a new protocol for when roads should be closed due to high wind or heavy rainfall, and adds that it’s working with utility providers on long-term plans for relocating temporary power lines that were set up beside Bamfield Main Road.

“As the complex work continues to ensure public safety, the community’s patience and co-operation is appreciated,” said the province Thursday.