Highway 4 to Tofino, B.C. partially reopens after fuel spill

DriveBC says Vancouver Island's Highway 4 has partially reopened after a fuel spill Thursdaycut off trafficin both directions.

The route is the only road link to the communities of Tofino,Uclueletand theAhousahtFirst Nation.Tofinois one of the Island's most popular tourist destinations.

Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne says Grade 7 students from Tofino's elementary school were among those stranded by the closure. They had to wait out the incident in Port Alberni.

"There's no detour," Osborne said. "There are no logging roads. There's no way to connect around that. The only way in and out of the community ... would be boats or planes."

'We're used to these kinds of things'

Osborne said the spill happened around 3 p.m. PT Thursday when a tanker carrying aviation fuel tipped over. She said crews have not yet determined what caused the accident.

Despite the closure at the start of a busy tourist season, Osborne said morale in the community remains high.

"It's a bit of a test of our patience, but we have good spirits out here," she said. "I think we're used to these kinds of things out here on the West Coast."

Ucluelet wants second road link

The closure took place33 kilometres northeast of the Ucluelet junction.

District of Ucluelet Mayor Dianne St. Jacques said in a statement that the closure highlights the need for a second road link to the west coast of Vancouver Island.

"Having the rest of the island cut off from our communities for an extended period due to a simple road closure is a real problem," St. Jacquesis quoted as having said.

"We will continue to lobby for a second transportation link."

District staff say contractors are on scene to assess possible soil and water contamination at the scene of the spill.

The B.C. Ministry of Environment is also attending.

With files from CBC Radio One's On the Island.