Travelers along Highway 97 north of Prince George have likely noticed the large red “closed” signs posted at Whiskers Point Provincial Park near McLeod Lake.
The closure, about 130 kilometres north of the city, stems from safety concerns related to aging infrastructure inside the park.
According to an article by Prince George Citizen News, a letter from assistant deputy minister Jim Standen of BC Environment and Parks, dated July 4 and shared with the District of Mackenzie council, explained that a routine inspection of the park’s bridges in the fall of 2024 revealed deterioration and serious risks to visitors.
“A routine inspection of the bridges in the fall of 2024 identified deterioration and potential risk to park visitors,” Standen wrote.
“The engineer’s report rated the bridges as not safe for use immediately after the inspection. The replacement cost for the bridges was significantly higher than the operating budget for the region.”
BC Parks confirmed that Whiskers Point contains four log stringer bridges built in the 1970s, all of which were recently deemed to have a zero load rating, making them unsafe for vehicle traffic.
Initial surveys for replacements have been completed, with design work now in progress. Due to requirements under the Wildlife Act governing work in and around streams, construction timelines have been scheduled carefully, with completion expected before the end of September 2025.
“The ministry recognizes the effect of the closure on the local economy,” Standen added, noting that replacement of the bridges has been placed high on the list of capital projects for 2025. The park is expected to reopen for the 2026 season.
The temporary closure of Whiskers Point underscores the growing challenge of aging infrastructure within provincial parks.