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Benson Creek Falls Regional Park is a popular local and tourism destination in the Nanaimo area. A deep ravine and a challenging crossing of Benson Creek functionally limits connection between the north and south sides of the park and makes it difficult to safely hike to Ammonite Falls (also known as Benson Creek Falls), the main park attraction. The trailhead on Weigles Road provides access to loop trails on the north side of the ravine, and the trailhead on Jameson Road provides trail access to Ammonite Falls from the south.
The RDN is planning improvements to the park that will provide enhanced parking, a safe bridge crossing over Benson Creek, and upgraded trail descents that greatly improve public access to, and mobility within, this regionally significant park.
How you can be involved, find out more or provide feedback?
Benson Creek Falls Regional Park is a popular local and tourism destination in the Nanaimo area. A deep ravine and a challenging crossing of Benson Creek functionally limits connection between the north and south sides of the park and makes it difficult to safely hike to Ammonite Falls (also known as Benson Creek Falls), the main park attraction. The trailhead on Weigles Road provides access to loop trails on the north side of the ravine, and the trailhead on Jameson Road provides trail access to Ammonite Falls from the south.
The RDN is planning improvements to the park that will provide enhanced parking, a safe bridge crossing over Benson Creek, and upgraded trail descents that greatly improve public access to, and mobility within, this regionally significant park.
How you can be involved, find out more or provide feedback?
Construction is moving forward on the bridge and trail improvements. Please note that the park remains an active construction site and public access to the ravine and bridge is prohibited. Please obey signs posted on site.
The new parking lot and trailhead on Weigles road is now open. Please continue to watch for construction activity within the park as the bridge and trail improvements are still underway.
Construction of the bridge and trail upgrades is currently underway. For the month of February, park visitors can expect periodic closures of marked trails and access roads. Please be alert to construction activity and obey personnel and signs posted on site.
Starting on October 13, 2020, work will begin on the construction of:
The work will occur in phases and will be fully complete in Spring 2021.
Park visitors can expect temporary closures of trails and access roads, including full closure of the ravine trail for the duration of construction. Please remain alert to construction activities in and around the park and obey the signs posted on site.
The Regional Board has awarded two construction contracts for improvements at Benson Creek Falls Regional Park. This fall, CMF Construction Ltd. will be focusing efforts on installing a new hiking bridge over Benson Creek and upgrades to the Park’s steep ravine trails. Windley Contracting Ltd. will be focusing on constructing a new 40-stall gravel parking lot on Weigles Road, including a connecting trail into the Park.
Park visitors can expect temporary closures of trails and should remain alert to construction activities in and around the Park. For everyone’s safety, please obey all signs posted by the Contractor. Stay tuned for project updates! Works are scheduled to be complete by the end of November.
Phase 2, which includes stairs and a viewing platform at Ammonite Falls, is scheduled to occur in 2021.
The Island Coastal Economic Trust recently announced the RDN's successful application for funding towards the construction of the Benson Creek Falls Access Improvements Project.
Design work is nearing completion and the tendering of the first phase of construction is expected late-spring, early-summer. The project includes three components:
Detailed design is underway, and construction is expected to begin in
2020.
The Benson Creek Falls Regional Park Access Improvements project will provide trail improvements to the existing trail network, create some small sections of new trail and staircase installation to access Ammonite Falls, viewing platforms, erosion control and habitat rehabilitation measures, truss bridge installation over Benson Creek, and a new 40-stall parking lot, including two accessible parking stalls, off Weigles Road. For more information on the designs of the proposed Benson Creek Crossing (Option1), Ammonite Falls Descent (Option 2), and Weigles Road parking lot please review the Board Report provided in the background document library.
The conceptual design phase of this project is complete and the preferred design options for the Benson Creek Bridge Crossing, the Ammonite Falls Descent (Option 2) and Weigles Road Parking Lot have been determined and endorsed by the Regional Board. For more information please read the Board Report provided in the background document library.
In 2014 the Regional District of Nanaimo adopted the Benson Creek Falls Regional Park Management Plan. The Plan identifies park access improvements that will support user safety, limit liability, and reduce ongoing erosion and vegetation damage associated with access to steep slopes and environmentally sensitive areas.
Check out the management plan for more information about the park and to learn some of the background on this project.
Access improvements to Ammonite Falls and across Benson Creek were explored. Public were asked to share their thoughts by completing a questionnaire.
A summary of the public input has been compiled and is available above. The concepts were brought to the RDN Board to determine which options to proceed with.
Based on conceptual design work, the RDN applied for grant funding for the project.
Detailed design work began for three components of the project: 1) improved parking and trail head at Weigles Road 2) a recreational truss bridge and trail improvements in the Benson Creek ravine, and 3) improvements at Ammonite Falls.
Parking, truss bridge and trail improvements were tendered for construction in 2020. Improvements at Ammonite Falls will be tendered in 2021.
Construction began in 2020 for the parking and trail head at Weigles Road and the recreational truss bridge and trail improvements in the Benson Creek ravine. Anticipated completion of phase 1 is Spring 2021.
Improvements at Ammonite Falls are scheduled to be constructed in Summer 2021.
agore@rdn.bc.ca |