Soda Creek-Macalister Road Project complete!

 

The Project Manager for the Soda Creek-Macalister Road project, as part of the Cariboo Road Recovery Projects (10) reached out to the Cariboo RD's Area "D" Director earlier today and confirmed what locals in the Soda Creek Valley have been discussing since this past Friday (November 28, 2025) which is the Soda Creek-Macalister Road project is now complete and the advisory from DriveBC has now been removed ...

Thanks to the BC Ministry of Transportation for successfully completing this project and residents' in the Soda Creek Valley for staying engaged in ensuring that this project was seen to completion from March 2020 until late November of 2025 ...

Road projects improve safety, reliability in (North) Cariboo

Courtesy of the Government of BC:

Three road-improvement projects are moving forward to address Cariboo roads affected by slides and washouts, paving the way for improved reliability and safety for residents in the region.

“Ensuring people can travel on safe and reliable roadways is our top priority,” said the Hon. Mike Farnworth, BC's Minister of Transportation and Transit. “Our transportation investments in the Cariboo go beyond road repairs. We’re building back better to ensure resilient infrastructure, which will improve the quality of life for residents, businesses, and travellers in the region.”

The three Cariboo Road Recovery Projects (CRRP) proceeding to the next phase are:

• Kersley-Dale Landing Road: A contract has been awarded to West Horizon Contracting. The new road alignment will bypass landslide-prone areas, providing a climate-resilient design that reduces future risks. Construction is set to begin in the coming months.
• Quesnel-Hydraulic Road: Construction will stabilize and realign the road to meet modern design standards. A construction tender will be issued this year, with work expected to begin as early as spring 2026.
• Bastin Road at Bastin Hill: Construction will make improvements including up-slope flattening to reduce landslide risks, added rock blankets for slope stability, upgraded drainage, and realignment of the road away from the Quesnel River. Construction is expected to begin as early as summer 2025.

A portion of Durrell Road in Quesnel that has been closed since being severely affected by two landslides in 2021 will not reopen. An alternative route is available. The area will be naturalized, and turnaround points will be built to assist traffic on both sides of the site.

In 2020 and 2021, changing weather patterns contributed to hundreds of landslides and road washouts across the Cariboo. The Ministry of Transportation and Transit is working to restore access to affected roads and highways with a focus on building back better, benefiting area residents, businesses and travellers.

To date, four CRRP projects have progressed to construction or are complete, including Highway 97 at Cottonwood Hill, Blackwater Road and Knickerbocker Road, Highway 97 at Cuisson Creek and Soda Creek-MacAlister Road. 

Learn More:

To learn more about the Cariboo Road Recovery Project, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation-projects/cariboo-road-recovery-projects

Section of Quesnel-Hixon Road closed permanently

Courtesy of the Government of BC:

A 400-metre section of Quesnel-Hixon Road is being permanently closed, and the Cottonwood River Canyon Bridge is being taken out of service.

The road was damaged in 2021 by a landslide that caused severe distortion and displacement of the road just south of the Cottonwood River Canyon Bridge, forcing closure of the road and bridge.

After three years of planning under the Cariboo Road Recovery Project, it was found that reopening the road would require hundreds of millions of dollars for new road and bridge construction. To ensure public safety and manage taxpayer funds wisely, a decision was made to permanently close this section of the road.

Ten Mile Lake Road, Olson Road, Morgan Road and Plett Road continue to provide access to Highway 97 and accommodate traffic volumes. The ministry is considering additional safety improvements in the area.

Learn More:

For more information about the Cariboo Road Recovery Projects, visit: https://gov.bc.ca/cariboo