Despite some shoulder erosion due to the recent flooding in the area, Crofton Road is safe to drive on, according to a government release.
The statement from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said that geotechnical assessments of the road, which has recently undergone a major upgrade, indicate that the pavement has not been undermined and the road is safe for travel.
RELATED STORY: CROFTON ROAD IMPROVEMENT WORK NEARING COMPLETION
“The ministry’s maintenance contractor continues to monitor the road and plans to repair the shoulder erosion as soon as possible this week (Dec. 6-10),” the release said.
Shortly after the severe flooding in the region on Nov. 15, North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring told council that some of the brand new shoulders on the road had eroded away as water flowed over them.
“In some spots, erosion has undercut the new road’s surface, so cones had been set up to keep people away from the edge so that the pavement doesn’t collapse until it is rebuilt,” Siebring said at the time.
The long-awaited upgrades to Crofton Road, which connects Crofton to the Trans-Canada Highway, were completed earlier this year.
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The road, which was widened and completely resurfaced in the upgrade project, had long been a safety concern as drivers and cyclists had to swerve in and out of lanes to avoid potholes and dangerous dips.
The road is heavily used by logging trucks, chemical transports, school buses, and ferry and residential traffic, which had caused significant wear and tear on it over the years.
It has also seen significant deterioration from heavy snowfalls in recent winters, and the plowing to clear the road had only made the problem worse.
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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