Hazelton Area Roads
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Welcome to the Kispiox Valley Road StoryMap.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (the ministry) is committed to ensuring road users in the Hazelton/Kispiox area remain well informed about current road situations and the ministry’s progress in addressing and mitigating challenges.
This StoryMap will provide an opportunity for the ministry to post continual updates on this important work.
Check back frequently to receive the latest information on the progress made in the area.
Current Sites of Interest
Below is a map that shows the different projects that the ministry is undertaking to maintain and improve the Kispiox Valley Road. Scroll through the site to learn more about the recent work. You can use the (-) and (+) buttons to zoom in and out of the map.
China Cut Slide
The China Cut Slide is a slow-moving slide caused by the movement of ground water. Kispiox Valley Road traverses the slide area which is about 250 meters wide and approximately 130 metres long. In 2019, a planning study was undertaken to review alternative road alignments for the Kispiox Valley Road. In 2020, the wet summer caused a greater rate of movement of the China Cut slide. Based on recommendations from the ministry’s geotechnical engineers, the upslope ditch was infilled to move the road over, make drainage improvements, and safely maintain two lanes of traffic. In the fall of 2021, the ministry undertook a geotechnical drilling investigation to inform the design for geotechnical stabilization. The ministry and its highway maintenance contractor, Dawson Road Maintenance, continue to monitor the China Cut slide regularly to ensure it remains safe for the traveling public.
Kispiox Bridge
The Kispiox Bridge is an important link that serves the residents of Kispiox Village and Kispiox Valley. The Kispiox Bridge has been identified for future replacement and first steps are already underway. Preliminary engineering works including bathymetric (depth of water measurement) and topographic surveys were completed in 2022. The next phase of work includes a hydrotechnical investigation, geotechnical investigation, and environmental assessments. After these investigations, conceptual options for a replacement bridge can be created.
Kispiox Valley Road Scour
The Skeena River is eroding the bank adjacent to the Kispiox Valley Road at approximately 10 km. Preliminary engineering works including Bathymetric, hydrotechnical investigation and environmental assessments to determine the best repair options were completed in 2022. Ministry staff and Dawson Road Maintenance staff continue to monitor the site to ensure the safety of the travelling public.
The realignment project has been completed, with paving and barriers being placed to ensure continued safety. This project realigned a small segment of the roadway, resulting in more distance between the Skeena River and Kispiox Valley Road. Please continue to obey all new signage as the travelling public adapts to the change. Works towards a more permanent repair will continue, such as further surveys and design of a hydrotechnical repair.
Bulkley River Bank Protection
The K’san Erosion site is on High Level Road between Old Hazelton and the Kispiox Valley Road. Groundwater moving through the site is causing a loss of the embankment adjacent to High Level Road. Movement is slow at the site, and staff monitor it frequently to ensure the site is safe. The ministry, working with the Gitxsan Government Commission, has completed a hydrotechnical study, environmental assessment and a geotechnical repair design. As the proposed repair requires a significant volume of rock to be placed in the Bulkley River, the ministry has submitted its plan for a habitat offsetting site for review by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Work Update: China Cut Slide
The Ministry is currently engaging with the Gitanmaax Band and analyzing the geotechnical options for upgrading the 300-metre-long section of the Kispiox Valley Road that traverses the slow-moving slide area.
October 2021: Initial geotechnical drilling investigation was completed, and draft stabilization designs were created.
Summer 2022: Preliminary environmental and archaeological assessments have been completed. Ground survey, bathymetric survey, and hydrotechnical assessments of the Skeena River at the slide location have also been completed. A second geotechnical drilling investigation took place in August 2022 to confirm subsurface ground conditions and support conceptual design options.
Fall 2022: The Ministry design team are working to select a slide stabilization option to finalize the conceptual design phase.
Spring 2023: An initial community meeting and information session was held to present conceptual designs. Additional engagement opportunities will be planned and advertised to the communities. Detailed engineering & design will continue.
As the project teams assess the options, the following criteria are used to inform their decisions:
The Hazelton-Kitwanga Backroad
The Hazelton-Kitwanga Backroad formerly connected the villages of Hazelton and Kitwanga (Kispiox Valley Road to Highway 37) along the north side of the Skeena River. The road has been closed since 2007 due to the Visserman Slide, a geotechnical instability in the area. The Visserman slide affected 320 metres of roadway and was ongoing for more than 20 years.
To determine if there were any reasonable solutions to stabilize the slide and remediate the slide area, extensive investigations were carried out including:
- Test holes
- Soil testing
- Installation of monitoring instrumentation
- Geophysical studies
Through the investigations, ministry engineers determined that the Visserman Slide is very deep and wide and there are no clear and viable options for stabilization and remediation. Alternative routes around the slide have been reviewed however none are considered financially feasible at this time. The Mitten Forest Service Road continues to provide an alternative way out of the valley, when required. Regular inspections are being undertaken to ensure it remains a viable option for the public.
Mitten Forest Service Road
Like many places in B.C., communities in the Hazelton/Kispiox area are serviced by one public road; however, the Mitten Forest Service Road (FSR), under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Forests, provides an alternative way out of the valley when required.
The ministry has an agreement with the Ministry of Forests to use the Mitten FSR as an emergency detour. The FSR is a three-season route with no winter maintenance, but in the case of an emergency, the ministry will provide the services required to open the FSR.
A rock fall on the Mitten FSR was repaired by the Ministry of Forests in 2022 and regular inspections are being undertaken to ensure it remains a viable option.
Investments in Reliable Infrastructure
Since 2017 in the Hazelton/Kispiox area the ministry has:
- Invested $8M in rehabilitation works on the Hagwilget Bridge
- Invested $4M in resurfacing including first time hard surfacing of the Kispiox Valley Road from the Kispiox Village to Poplar Park Road as well as resurfacing Highway 16 from Boulder West to New Hazelton
2022 Highlights:
- Completed $6M in paving overlays
- Completed over $1M in engineering works for the China Cut Slide
- Continued over $500k in engineering, design and environmental compensation works for the Bulkley River Erosion site on Highway 62
- Preliminary site investigations and engineering works for various erosion sites on the Skeena River
- Preliminary engineering works to support the future replacement of the Kispiox River Bridge
Contact Information
If you have questions about maintenance or hazards along the roadway please reach out to Dawson Road Maintenance using this contact form. You can also call 1-(800) 842-4122 .
For China Cut Project related inquiries please contact Tara Jones, Project Manager at (778) 702-1483 or Tara.Jones@gov.bc.ca .
For other inquiries, send an email to: BulkleyStikineAdmin@gov.bc.ca Or call the Bulkley Stikine District Office at (250) 847-7403 .
