West Fraser Washout A Headache
QUESNEL – Seventeen kilometres south of Quesnel on West Fraser Road and motorists run up against a barricade. That’s because five sections along three kilometres of that road were washed out this spring when Narcosli Creek flooded. It has stranded 250 people on the south side of the washout. They have a detour, but it is gravel and adds significant time to the commute. Teresa Smith is a Director with the Buckridge Community Association. She says some families are opted to add to their commute, but on blacktop, as they head an hour south on Highway 97 to Williams Lake. Smith also has a business in Quesnel and, for her, that’s concerning.
“I realize, in talking to our community, the dollars that Quesnel is losing. We have families going to Williams Lake to shop for their groceries. Now they’re moving their banking, their doctors there.”
The Board for School District 28 is also weighing in with their concerns.
“We have approximately 20 students in Grades K to 12 that are registered to ride the bus,” says Gloria Jackson, Trustee for School District 28. “The first student now gets on [the bus] at 6:20 and doesn’t arrive at their destination until about two hours later. Those students as well don’t get home until approximately five o’clock at night.”