A portion of the popular Othello Tunnels trail will re-open to the public in the second week of July. The trails, which are in Coquihalla Canyon Park just outside of Hope, were heavily damaged in November 2021 in the historic atmospheric river event. The first phase of restoration work is already underway, and the province has now announced that the first two tunnels along the trail will be ready for this summer season of tourism.
Officials toured the site with media on Thursday, June 20, confirming what the province had announced in the spring this year. "We decided to do this project in two phases so that we can open it this year rather than wait for the completion of all of the phases in 2025," said George Heyman, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. This was his first time visiting the tunnels.
"I think the people of Hope take pride in the beautiful scenery around here. And the tunnels and this park is an important part of it. And I hope that the people of Hope will feel really good about the upcoming opening of the Othello Tunnels.
" More than 30 areas of the park were damaged in 2021, including the tunnels, which were created in 1914 for the rail lines. Bridge foundations were also affected, along with the stability of the canyon slopes above and inside the tunnels, increasing the risk of falling rocks. Local access roads and trails were also eroded by the flooding.
Many were initially concerned that the park would never receive the funding required t.
