'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
NEW Is there a cost to convenience? Canada approves new cancer immunotherapy treatment
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Canada's new dental program offering hope of free care to millions but many dentists aren't signed up
A new Canadian dental care program is offering the hope of free care to millions, but while 1.7 million people have signed up for the plan, only about 5,000 dentists have done the same.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
King Charles III returns to public duties with a trip to a cancer charity
King Charles III returned to public duties on Tuesday, visiting a cancer treatment charity and beginning his carefully managed comeback after the monarch's own cancer diagnosis sidelined him for three months.
NDP says Ottawa's new grocery task force isn't living up to government promises
The federal government says the task force it created to monitor and investigate grocery retailers' practices has not conducted any probes and doesn't have a mandate to take enforcement action.
A group of Toronto tenants have been on a rent strike for a year and say there's no resolution in sight
Dozens of tenants in Toronto's Thorncliffe Park area have now been withholding their rent for one year, and it’s unclear when the dispute will end.
U.K. police arrest man wielding a sword in east London, 5 people are taken to the hospital
A man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and two police officers on Tuesday in the east London community of Hainault before being arrested, police said.
Archeologists search for remnants of Halifax's 250-year-old wall that surrounded the city
Archeologist Jonathan Fowler is using ground-penetrating radar to search for historic evidence of the massive wall that surrounded Halifax more than 250 years ago.