Barkerville circle route through Cariboo region proposed

Residents near Barkerville, B.C., are calling for the province to build a second road into town, which would create a circle route between nearby popular tourist spots.

Barkerville offers a glimpse of what life was like during the Cariboo Gold Rush in the 1800s.

Thousands of tourists visit the area each summer, but Barkerville and the nearby District of Wells only have one road leading to them from a secondary highway, with no direct access from busy Highway 16.

The mayor of Wells,Robin Sharpe, wants to change that. He's calling on the province to develop a nearby logging road, which would create a circle route between Quesnel, Barkerville, Bowron Lake and Purden Lake.

"I think it's just another card in the deck to help everything move along here," said Sharpe.

The region has long been looking to diversify its economy from one based primarily on a diminishing forestry sector to one with more tourism dollars.

Sharpe estimates the circle route would boost tourism by 10 per cent.

A local contractor estimated that the road would cost $1 million to build. To minimize maintenance costs, it would only be open in the summer tourist season.

The road would also provide a secondary exit route in case of a forest fire, or other emergency.

This isn't the first time the route has been proposed.

"We've been pushing for it through Barkerville and the district of Wells for about 10 years now," said Sharpe.

Sharpe said the proposal has the support of nearby cities like Prince George, Quesnel, and 100 Mile House, as well as local First Nations groups.