Old Fort residents warned they will be cut off as road repairs set to begin

Old Fort residents are being urged to leave within the next 24 hours.

An evacuation order was issued April 24 for approximately 150 residents of the community, which is just outside of Fort St. John in northeast B.C., as the earth shifted the only access road by roughly of 100 metres.

But the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) estimates as many as half of those impacted have continued to live in their homes, using unofficial footpaths and ATV trails to get in and out for supplies.

Now, with Ministry of Transportation staff set to begin repairs this coming Friday, the district has renewed its call for people to leave and take advantage of emergency services being offered.

Heavy equipment will move tonnes of upslope material to a site south of the displaced roadway. This work is necessary for road construction and will result in the removal of the resident-built trail currently being used to access the displaced road segment. There will be no safe access across the slide area," the PRRD said in a Facebook post.

"Any informal access through the slide area will no longer be available."

PRRD Chair Brad Sperling said he doesn't have a lot of information about the ministry's plans but said he was warned that access to Old Fort could be cut off for a week or more.

"It's health and safety, it's always the concern," he said. "They won't be able to get supplies."

The PRRD says anyone in need of assistance, including a place to stay, can get help from emergency support services set up at the Pomeroy Sport Centre in Fort St. John.

This is the third landslide since 2018 to impact the community, prompting questions about its future viability if a more permanent fix cannot be found.

-with files from CBC