The governments of Canada and British Columbia (BC) have agreed to provide funding to upgrade a stretch of the Pacific Rim Highway about 14km east of the Ucluelet-Tofino junction near Kennedy Lake in BC. 

With a total estimated cost of  C$27m ($15.5m), the project will involve widening and straightening a 1.5km stretch of highway known for its 30km/h speed advisory, sharp curves and poor sight lines.

Canadian Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Amarjeet Sohi said: "This project will make it safer and easier for local residents, tourists and commercial drivers travelling along Kennedy Lake.

“The Government of Canada will continue to work in close collaboration with British Columbia to ensure we make smart infrastructure investments that help provide job opportunities for the middle-class, and build the Canada of tomorrow.”

"This project will make it safer and easier for local residents, tourists and commercial drivers travelling along Kennedy Lake."

Reportedly the longest East-West highway on Vancouver Island, Highway 4 is also the only road that connects the tourism destination communities of Tofino and Ucluelet and enables access to the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

British Columbia Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone said: "We identified Highway 4 widening and alignment improvements near Kennedy Lake as a priority in our BC on the Move transportation plan.

“Thanks to this valuable partnership with Canada, we are now moving forward on this project that will improve safety on this vital route linking the communities of Port Alberni, Tofino and Ucluelet, and providing access to Pacific Rim National Park.”

Construction is expected to begin next year and be completed in 2020.