Old Fort Road landslide slowing, but area remains unstable...

Published on May 1, 2026 at 5:19 PM

According to the Peace River Regional District, monitoring indicates movement of approximately 1 - 2.5 mm per minute.

Back on April 24, the slide was moving at 9-10 mm per minute.

B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Transit, Mike Farnworth, said while some sections of the slide continue to move faster than others, overall conditions are beginning to improve.

“It’s still pretty fast. What we have also noticed is that there is some variation in that movement in the slide itself,” Farnworth said. “Some areas are moving a little faster than others, but it is starting to slow down and I think that is what we want to see.”

Officials say there is a minimal increase in the total estimated displacement. The landslide has now pushed Old Fort Road 104 metres downhill.

New ground cracking has also been observed, with debris buildup and pooling within the slide area identified by the Ministry of Transportation.

The province says an alternate route is being considered, but Farnworth warned the cost could range between $250 million and $300 million, and even then, safety from another landslide could not be guaranteed.

An evacuation order and alert remain in place as the area continues to be closely monitored. Old Fort Road remains closed, and officials say it is still too early to say when access could be restored, or if it will be at all.

Meanwhile, the MLA for Peace River North has announced a town hall meeting on May 13 for residents of Old Fort, where updates on the landslide and next steps are expected to be discussed.

-M. Popove/CJDC

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