Additional section of BC’s historic Othello Tunnels will reopen next week

The historic Othello Tunnels within Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park are set to continue their slow, phased reopening next week.

According to the Province, the third of five tunnels will reopen to visitors on Friday, June 27, following the second phase of restoration work.

“During the second phase, the new north bridge was installed, 10 new stalls were added to the parking lot, a portion of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail was resurfaced, and more slopes and rocks were stabilized in the canyon,” explains a Ministry of Environment and Parks release.

The park was fully closed to the public for nearly three years after the atmospheric river storm in November 2021 caused catastrophic damage to the park and tunnels, which were originally built in 1914.

“Bridge foundations were also affected, along with the stability of the canyon slopes above the tunnels, increasing the risk of falling rocks,” the Ministry notes. “Local access roads and trails were also eroded by flooding.”

A small section of the park, including two of five tunnels, reopened to visitors in July 2024, providing access from the parking lot to the end of the second tunnel.

Although the third tunnel is set to reopen next week, the rest of the park will remain closed as restoration work continues through the summer and fall before an expected full reopening in spring 2026.

“The remaining work includes redecking the south bridge and stabilizing the inside of the fifth tunnel by adding pinned mesh to part of the ceiling and walls, and sprayed concrete wherever the rock is significantly deteriorated,” says the Ministry.

“Loose or unstable soil, rocks and vegetation will also be removed along the canyon slopes of the last two tunnels.”

The Province says the total project cost is around $10 million and is largely supported by the Government of Canada’s Financial Assistance Arrangements program.

BC Parks has also worked with First Nations and archeology and cultural-heritage specialists to avoid potential impacts to archeological and heritage values during construction.