Live closures, incidents and roadwork on Highway 4 — Tofino's only road in — from DriveBC's official feed.
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Highway 4 is the only road to Tofino and Ucluelet. When it closes, there is no practical detour — so this page reads DriveBC's live events for the whole route, from Tofino out to the Island Highway at Parksville, and tells you plainly whether the road is open.
Highway 4 is open, with roadwork and advisories.
DriveBC lists 7 roadworks and advisories on this route. As of 9 Jul, 12:54.
There is one way in and one way out by road. A closure on Highway 4 means waiting it out, not driving around it.
| What | Where | Until | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| RoadworkHighway 4, in both directions. Electrical maintenance planned between Victoria Quay and Margaret St (Port Alberni). Starting Mon Jul 13 at 9:00 AM PDT until Mon Jul 13 at 3:00 PM PDT. Right lane will be closed. Watch for traffic control personnel. Electrical maintenance right lane will be closed watch for traffic control and crews on scene. Last updated Wed Jul 8 at 10:05 AM PDT. (DBC-93492) | Victoria Quay to Margaret St · Both directions | 13 Jul, 15:00 | 8 Jul, 10:05 |
| RoadworkHighway 4, in both directions. Utility work planned between Jones Rd and Pratt Rd for 0.5 km (4 to 5 km west of Qualicum Beach). Starting Thu Jul 30 at 9:00 AM PDT until Thu Jul 30 at 3:00 PM PDT. Shoulder will be closed. Expect minor delays. Watch for traffic control personnel. Lane shift - slow down and watch for work crews. Last updated Wed Jul 8 at 7:50 AM PDT. (DBC-93485) | Jones Rd to Pratt Rd · Both directions | 30 Jul, 15:00 | 8 Jul, 7:50 |
| Roadwork · single-laneHighway 4, in both directions. Tree pruning planned between Old Nanaimo Hwy and Aspeden Rd for 1.7 km (Port Alberni to 2 km east of Port Alberni). Starting Mon Jul 13 at 9:00 AM PDT until Tue Jul 14 at 3:00 PM PDT. Single lane alternating traffic will be in effect. Expect minor delays. Watch for traffic control personnel. Slow down and watch for work crews. Last updated Wed Jul 8 at 7:09 AM PDT. (DBC-93481) | Old Nanaimo Hwy to Aspeden Rd · Both directions | 14 Jul, 15:00 | 8 Jul, 7:09 |
| RoadworkHighway 4, eastbound. Geotechnical investigation planned between Olsen Rd and Ehlers St for 0.3 km (Tofino). Starting Mon Jul 20 at 9:00 AM PDT until Mon Jul 20 at 3:00 PM PDT. Shoulder will be closed. Expect minor delays. Watch for traffic control personnel. Slow down and watch for work crews. Last updated Tue Jul 7 at 2:02 PM PDT. (DBC-93470) | Olsen Rd to Ehlers St · Eastbound | 20 Jul, 15:00 | 7 Jul, 14:02 |
| RoadworkHighway 4, westbound. Utility work between Josephine St and Mary St (Port Alberni). Until Mon Aug 31 at 7:00 PM PDT. Shoulder closed. Last updated Thu May 28 at 1:32 PM PDT. (DBC-91986) | Josephine St to Mary St · Westbound | 31 Aug, 19:00 | 1 Jun, 7:00 |
| RoadworkHighway 4, in both directions. Construction work between Heath Rd and Victoria Quay for 0.3 km (Port Alberni). Until Wed Jul 15. Shoulder closed. Expect minor delays. Watch for traffic control. 24/7 - 30kmhr construction zone - Slow down and watch for work crews. Next update time Wed Jul 15 at 12:00 PM PDT. Last updated Sun May 31 at 1:07 PM PDT. (DBC-86381) | Heath Rd to Victoria Quay · Both directions | 15 Jul, 23:59 | 31 May, 13:07 |
| RoadworkHighway 4, in both directions. Maintenance between Port Alberni Summit and Chalet Rd for 9.5 km (Cathedral Grove). Vehicles/loads over 3.2m in width must contact Permit Centre for instructions at 1-800-559-9688. Daytime travel restriction, must travel between 9pm-5am. Next update time Mon Mar 1, 2027 at 3:00 PM PST. Last updated Mon Feb 9 at 3:15 PM PST. (DBC-52953) | Port Alberni Summit to Chalet Rd · Both directions | Until further notice | 9 Feb, 15:15 |
DriveBC is the live source — check it before you drive
The 2023 Cameron Bluffs wildfire shut Highway 4 near Cameron Lake for much of June to August 2023 — single-lane convoys at best, full closures for weeks. Tofino's visitor numbers fell by roughly 80% that summer. It is the clearest reminder that this one road is the town's lifeline.
Even when the highway stays open, summer wildfire smoke in the Cameron Lake area can settle over the route. If you're checking the road in fire season, check the air too.
The Sutton Pass stretch and the climbs either side of Port Alberni take snow, ice and the occasional rock or mudslide in winter storms. Carry the right tyres in the cold months and give yourself extra time.
Checked 9 Jul, 12:54 (GMT-7). Road data from DriveBC — contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – British Columbia. Events can lag the road, and very new ones take a few minutes to appear.