Hope (B.C.)/CMEDIA: A major tourist attraction and historical landmark near Hope, B.C. Othello Tunnels not anticipated to reopen this year after their closure more than 16 months due to being damaged by floods, Ministry of Environment said.
Located in Coquihalla Canyon Park, Othello Tunnels usually reopen for the season in the month of May.
But according to a statement from the Ministry of Environment, it is “not anticipated that it will be opened in 2023.”
“It’s the number one thing, number one question asked in Hope, ‘When are the tunnels going to open?’” said Hope Mayor Victor Smith.
Brian McKinney of the Hope Cascades and Canyons Visitor Centre reported saying that it’s a big hit for the community economy since a lot lot of movie business relies on the park being open and added when one of your larger attractions are shut down or closed loss to our community is immeasurable.
Before the floods of November 2021, about 50,000 people would visit the park each year between May and November as the tunnels are steeped in history and considered a remarkable engineering feat.
McKinney said parks staff have told him that there are some structural and geotechnical damage that needs to be repaired.
“Construction was begun in 1914 and completed in 1916. The first train went through in the fall of 1916…There’s funding for new parks… but there’s nothing for maintenance of old parks and that is a problem” explained Mike Stuart, a local historian.
#B.C.; #MajorTouristAttraction; #OldPark; #OthelloTunnels; #MinistryOfEnvironment; #HopeMayorVictorSmith; #notanticipatedtoreopenthisyear
