Happy Tuesday, folks.
For those thinking of taking a drive today, here's all the information you need to know before hitting the road.
Driving weather
Squamish meteorologist Jason Ross says an upper trough over the Pacific will drive a frontal system toward the South Coast this evening through Wednesday, bringing much-needed precipitation and a risk of thunderstorms to the area.
High pressure will start to build over southwestern B.C. on Thursday into next weekend, with inland temperatures warming up to the 30s.
Environment Canada says we can expect a high of 23 C, and an overnight low of 16 C tonight.
The UV index will rise to 7, or high, on Aug. 5.
"While UVA rays do not cause sunburns like UVB rays do, they actually penetrate the skin more deeply and are known to cause skin aging and skin cancer."
'Never leave children or pets'
TranBC offers the following alerts about taking care of your loved ones when you stop driving for a time.
"Never leave children or pets alone, for any length of time, in a parked vehicle. On a hot day, a stationary vehicle heats up extremely fast and permanent injuries or death could result. Look inside your car while you’re locking it, to make sure no one gets left behind. When it’s 27 C outside, the temperature in a parked vehicle can climb to 37 C in 10 minutes, 43 C in 20 minutes, and up to 50 C in an hour."
Prepare for the unexpected
Crashes happen on the Sea to Sky Highway, regardless of the weather.
Sometimes, there can be lengthy road closures of five hours or more, while a serious crash is investigated and cleared.
Be sure to carry plenty of water, snacks, a pillow, blanket, car charger, and a first aid kit.
Watch for wildlife
Watch for wildlife, as deer, coyotes, and bears have recently been seen along or on the highway in our region.
According to social media, a black bear was hit southbound at Brandywine RV park on July 24, for example.
Report any wildlife sightings or encounters to the Conservation Officer Service Hotline at 1.877.952.7277.
The Government of B.C. provides the following tips to help drivers avoid hitting wildlife on highways:
- Be extra cautious at dawn, dusk, and night—these are peak animal movement times
- Follow posted speed limits and scan the ditches for movement or for the reflection of eyes from your headlights
- Slow down when you see an animal—some animals like deer freeze in panic, while moose may run along the road
- Many animals travel in groups, so if you see one, slow down until you are well past
- Obey wildlife warning signs—they’re placed in high-risk areas based on real data
- Never swerve suddenly to avoid an animal, as this can lead to a more serious collision—brake firmly and stay in your lane
- Use high beams when possible to spot animals sooner
Forest service roads (FSR)
For full forest service road access reports, go to this provincial government site.
If you are new to driving FSRs, check out this handy guide.
Mamquam Bridge
The District has shared that utility inspection work will take place on the Mamquam Bridge today, Aug. 5.
"Please anticipate single-lane alternating traffic during the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Traffic management will be in place. Thanks for your patience while this work is being completed!" they shared on their social media.
Levette Lake Recreation Site closed
Please note that Levette Lake Recreation Site has been closed indefinitely due to the presence of a dangerous bear.
"Remember to use bear aware camping practices. Always secure your food and garbage, never keep food in your tent and never approach or feed wildlife," reads the Recreation Site web page.
X̱wún̓eḵw Park closure notice
The District says that X̱wún̓eḵw Park on the Mamquam Blind Channel downtown will be closed for sea dike and flood protection upgrades until summer 2026.
Impacts will include:
Short-term traffic disruptions on Loggers Lane.
Closure of the park, including the water access, watercraft storage facility and Main Street parking area.
Alternative public water access is available at Sp'akw'us Feather Park.
Construction noise and vibration due to construction activities including pile driving and ground densification work.
"This work is an integral part of the ongoing dike upgrade program identified in the District's Integrated Flood Hazard Management Plan (IFHMP). The District has been in contact with user groups of the Squamish Paddling Club Storage. The X̱wún̓eḵw Canoe Shelter will still be accessible," reads the muni's social media post.
Spit Road open
The District has announced that Spit Road is back open.
It was temporarily closed earlier this month at Culvert #2 to allow for invasive species removal, according to a District social media post.
Traffic events & roadwork alerts
Check out our map below, full of DriveBC events happening along Highway 99.
Click on any of the pins to see more information about each event.
Gas Prices as of Aug. 5
The removal of the motor fuel carbon tax has had an impact on local gas prices.
In Squamish today, regular gas in town is going for 159.9 cents per litre at most area stations.
Before the carbon tax was removed, gas in town was at about 178.9¢/L
(The B.C. government cancelled the carbon tax by introducing legislation to drop the rate to $0, effective April 1.)
In Whistler, regular gas is on offer for 161.9¢/L, at the Chevron at 8110 Crazy Canuck Dr.
In Pemby, gas is on offer for 159.9¢/L, at AC Gas, 7432 Prospect St.
Duffey news
If you drive The Duffey (Duffey Lake Road—Highway 99 to non-locals), you have likely wondered if the dang road is set to be repaved anytime soon.
Well, we have the answer for at least part of the popular route.
The Ministry of Transportation and Transit told The Squamish Chief that there are plans to complete 15 km of hard surfacing on Highway 99 between Cayoosh Bridge and Boulder Creek Bridges, 10 to 25 km west of Lillooet.
This work started on July 3, and runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday. The anticipated end of construction will be Sept. 12.
"The construction speed zone during construction periods will be a maximum of 50 km/hr and will remain that posted speed until the roadway has been cleaned of loose rock and debris. The zone will be single lane alternating traffic that is controlled using a pilot car," reads a letter sent by Northwest Sealcoating Company and posted to the SLRD website.
