Damaged bridge hinders access to Finlay Bay recreation site

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – A bridge and road leading to Finlay Bay in need of repairs and maintenance has been brought to the attention of the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) 

A director report submitted by Electoral Area E Director Dan Rose during the August 15th regional board meeting had the directors voting on the condition of the West Parsnip Forest Service Road, which has fallen into disrepair. 

A bridge at Kilometer 41 of the road has been compromised and is currently closed with a zero-tonne weight limit, and the road itself needs maintenance. 

The road leads to Finlay Bay, a recreational site on Willston Lake near Mount Selwyn, west of Hudson’s Hope, and crosses in and out of Area E. 

According to the report, while barricades have been put up to prevent travel, people are moving the barricades and continuing to travel across the damaged bridge. 

When PRRD staff contacted the Mackenzie Natural Resource District Office about the status of the road and the bridge, the office stated there was no plan to fix the road, and the Ministry of Forests had been notified.

The PRRD voted to contact the Tsay Keh Dene Nation and the Ministry of Forests to see if the bridge will be restored and the road maintained in the future.