Malahat highway reopens to two-way traffic ahead of schedule

Islanders search for gas during supply crunch Gas stations on the South Island are facing gas shortages due to panic buying and disruptions in the province's supply chain.

Vancouver — A stretch of Highway 1 on Vancouver Island that was closed during this week's severe storm has reopened to two-way traffic, according to the province.

The Malahat Highway had been limited to alternating one-way traffic at Tunnel Hill since Tuesday, and was closed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily until Thursday.

The province announced late Friday that the highway had reopened to two-way traffic, but warned drivers to be prepared for "construction conditions, including no median barrier, narrow lanes, limited shoulder widths and reduced-speed zones."

"Additional repairs to fully restore the site will continue for the coming months," the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said in a statement.

"Drivers can expect active construction equipment with some single-lane alternating traffic and intermittent closures as construction warrants."

The two-way reopening comes ahead of schedule, as the province had previously predicted that alternating one-way traffic would continue on the Malahat until Nov. 22, depending on weather conditions.