Back in 2005, I wrote a report on BC Ferries. (You can read this report at www.vanishinghistory.ca/?p=1318.)
In section FI, is a proposed route from Squamish to Powell River. Parts of this report’s proposed route is now being considered.
What has surprised me is that not a single new route proposed for consultation has included a route to Vancouver Island.
I have proposed a road connecting Upper Sunshine Coast, Lower Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island, which has fallen on deaf ears so far.
My recommended route from Powell River is down past Saltery Bay, which connects to Nelson Island, then crosses over near Earls Cove and connects onto the existing highway. It would remain on the existing Sunshine Coast Highway to the area of Halfmoon Bay, the location of a junction where the highway splits.
One direction takes you across a series of bridges, to Texada, Lasqueti, Hornby and Denman Islands (eliminating four ferries), landing near Bowser and continuing to the Island Highway. Then, one can head south towards Victoria or north towards Port Hardy
The second direction continues past Halfmoon Bay down towards Sechelt crossing the inlet to the backside of Sechelt, over the mountains, bypassing Sechelt and Gibsons, connecting near Willamson Landing, travelling up past Port Mellon, then to Squamish. The estimated time from Saltery Bay to Horseshoe Bay is 3.5 hours from Powell River and eliminates one ferry.
This route benefits up to 16 large and small communities, and involves less travel time, fuel consumption, weather problems and easier assist for major accidents.
My proposed route benefits over 1.2 million travellers, eliminates five ferries, 10 BC Ferry terminals, saves thousands of hours in commercial, residential and visitor travel time, stops millions of dollars in lost revenues for commercial truckers and gives access to and from all the effective communities 24 hours a day.
This route saves the B.C. economy, no sailing waits, no one stuck behind at hotels and no massive lineups.
Personally I have no idea why it was not considered.
If there is no consideration for a connection to Vancouver Island I believe no roads will be considered as it will not benefit enough communities and that will be the end of this matter at hand.
Rob Tremblay
Powell River
