The long closed Allenby Road may reopen this summer, but only for single alternating lane traffic.
Cowichan Tribes’ June newsletter states that the First Nation’s Lulumexun Lands and Self Governance department, which is responsible for all the First Nation’s lands, has been working closely with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure on the work required to restore access to Allenby Road, an important traffic artery in the south of Duncan, and alleviate the traffic congestion in that area following recent drone LIDAR surveys that were taken.
Allenby Road has been closed since November, 2021, after the historic flooding event that struck the Cowichan Valley caused a couple of landslides that buried part of Allenby Road, between Miller and Boys Roads, in debris.
The area where the landslide occurred is on land belonging to Cowichan Tribes, and the First Nation has been working with MoTI in efforts to reopen the road since the landslides occurred.
Opening one lane of Allenby Road this summer would allow the stability work to continue on the adjacent hill where the landslides occurred.
“The project team acknowledges that the partial reopening is a short-term solution and that long-term slope repair options are still in the design stage,” the newsletter said.
“Nevertheless, comprehensive technical analysis has confirmed that long-term rock blanket, shotcrete and soil anchor solutions are viable. The Crown and Cowichan Tribes continue to discuss funding and liability issues surrounding these long-term options. Lulumexun will continue to prioritize safety and prevention of any disruption to natural habitats and waterways throughout any forthcoming construction work.”
North Cowichan councillor Debra Toporowski, who is also a councillor on Cowichan Tribes board, said at a North Cowichan council meeting on June 4 that it usually takes a long time to conduct and complete the work required in areas impacted by landslides, and pointed to the many years Cowichan Bay Road has been experiencing flooding and landslides.
“It was a fight getting the government to help pay for (the required hillside stability work needed to reopen Allenby Road), and not have the (Cowichan Tribes)community pay for it all,” Toporowski said