The B.C. government is investing $5.4-million on safety and mobility upgrades for the Sea-to-Sky Highway from Lions Bay to Pemberton, happening this summer and fall 2016.

“As part of our commitment through B.C. on the Move, we are making a number of improvements to ensure the Sea-to-Sky Highway is kept in top shape,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone. “This means we are headed into another busy construction season as we continue to invest in our transportation network in support of B.C. families and communities.”

“These highway upgrades will help improve safety and mobility for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians along this iconic and increasingly busy stretch of the Sea-to-Sky,” said West Vancouver-Sea-to-Sky MLA Jordan Sturdy. “The investments in resurfacing, access improvements, new overhead digital message sign, and a cycling warning system will all contribute to our goals of enhancing year round safe and efficient travel along Highway 99.”

The upgrades include the following:

• Asphalt resurfacing of Highway 99, north of Whistler ($4-million) – Crews are repaving 5.8 kilometres of highway from Wedgemount north towards Pemberton. This project will provide safer driving conditions for the travelling public, a smoother driving surface, and dust control improvements. Work started in mid-June with completion scheduled for mid-July 2016.
• Alice Lake digital message sign – ($525,000) – A second digital message sign was installed at Alice Lake for southbound traffic in late June 2016, and will be activated shortly. This new overhead sign will warn southbound Highway 99 motorists of incidents affecting the highway. The sign is connected to the Regional Transportation Management Centre in Coquitlam with the operators who control messaging for the digital sign.
• Speed reader board and curve warning sign in Lions Bay – ($70,000) – Crews have installed an illuminated curve warning sign and a speed reader board on Highway 99 north of Lions Bay. These signs warn drivers of curves ahead on the road, and to slow down.
• Whistler Heliport access improvements ($500,000) – This project will improve access to and from the Whistler Heliport. A left turn lane will be built on Highway 99 at the Whistler Heliport for improved access. Construction is slated to start in September 2016.
• Lorimer Road northbound right turn extension – ($150,000) – Crews will extend the right turn acceleration lane at Lorimer Road in Whistler. Construction is slated to start in September 2016.
• Porteau Bluffs cycling warning system – ($100,000) – Cycling activated digital signs will be installed to warn drivers of cyclists travelling through the Porteau Bluffs section of Highway 99, which is a very popular route for cyclists.

Drivers are also reminded that as of June 2016, the new variable speed signs are now active along the Sea-to-Sky Highway, as part of a pilot project to help reduce the frequency and severity of weather-related crashes. These electronic signs adjust the speed limit according to conditions and will require drivers to slow down and reduce their speed in bad weather. There are 16 variable speed signs along the Sea-to-Sky Highway from Squamish to Function Junction.

B.C. on the Move is government’s new 10-year plan for the improvement of the province’s transportation network. Over the next three years, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will invest up to $2.7 billion to improve B.C.’s transportation network.

As part of this plan, the B.C. government will invest $380 million over three years to resurface provincial highways. Highway resurfacing includes conventional paving, hot-in-place recycle paving (an environmentally-friendly, made-in-B.C. technology), and sealcoating for lower volume rural highways. This investment program is the main component of the government’s strategy to resurface 1,000 kilometres of provincial highway annually.

Learn more:

https://engage.gov.bc.ca/transportationplan/