'Like the Grand Canyon to us': Othello Tunnels to partially re-open this summer
A major tourist attraction in Hope, B.C., that’s been shut down for more than two years because of flood damage will partially re-open this July.
The popular Othello Tunnels in Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park were heavily damaged during the atmospheric rivers that pounded Hope in November of 2021, bringing 120 mm of rain in a single weekend.
“There was a pile of water going through like we’ve never seen before,” recalled Hope Mayor Victor Smith.
All that water did significant damage to the park, known for its historic tunnels, which had been attracting as many as 800 visitors a day during summer months.
“We’ve had various movies (filmed) there, of course, (including) Rambo,” explained Smith of the park’s popularity.
“On a small scale like Hope, it’s like the Grand Canyon to us…. It’s a place you want to see and people keep coming back and they bring their friends,” he explained.
The Ministry of Environment has committed $4.5 million to repair the park, which saw more than 30 sites damaged, including the five tunnels that were built in 1914 and are considered an engineering feat of their time. They were part of the Kettle Valley Railway.
The ministry said bridge foundations were also impacted during the flooding along with the stability of the canyon slopes above the tunnels, increasing the risk of falling rocks.
"Coquihalla Canyon Park and Othello Tunnels are extremely popular, and their spectacular beauty and unique features provide good reason," said George Heyman, minister of environment and climate change strategy.
"We know people have been waiting a long time for the park to safely open…we are designing and rebuilding more resilient infrastructure so it can better withstand the impacts of climate change."
Hope’s mayor said his community is ecstatic about the planned re-opening of the first two tunnels in July.
“It’s very important. It’s the fifth largest visited attraction in B.C.,” Smith said.
The remaining three tunnels are expected to re-open next year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cisco reveals security breach, warns of state-sponsored spy campaign
State-sponsored actors targeted security devices used by governments around the world, according to technology firm Cisco Systems, which said the network devices are coveted intrusion points by spies.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
opinion RFK Jr.'s presidential candidacy and its potential threat to Biden and Trump
Although it's still unclear how much damage Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s candidacy can do to either Joe Biden or Donald Trump this election, Washington political columnist Eric Ham says what is clear is both sides recognize the potential threat.
Haida elder suing Catholic Church and priest, hopes for 'healing and reconciliation'
The lawyer for a residential school survivor leading a proposed class-action defamation lawsuit against the Catholic Church over residential schools says the court action is a last resort.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
It's 30 years since apartheid ended. South Africa's celebrations are set against growing discontent
South Africa marked 30 years since the end of apartheid and the birth of its democracy with a ceremony in the capital Saturday that included a 21-gun salute and the waving of the nation's multicolored flag.