Getting across the new and improved Sea to Sky Highway will be a little more difficult for residents of the North Yards.
The Transportation Ministry conclusion that the Centennial Way overpass is expendable is just one issue that came to light in the Sea to Sky Highway improvement project public consultation under way in Squamish.
The intersection at Centennial Way is slated to move south by a few metres and to be converted to a light-controlled, full-movement intersection. The Transportation Ministry wants to remove the existing overpass and install pedestrian-controlled traffic lights.
Coun. Sonja Lebans said this week that she isn't satisfied with that option.
"We need to talk to them about that," Lebans said. She would rather see a pedestrian underpass and an increase in the current elevation of the highway. Lebans believes the tunnel will offer a safer pedestrian alternative and a raise in the highway elevation will, she feels, improve the bridge sight lines.
While the Centennial overpass may become redundant the Mamquam Elementary overpass will not be eliminated, according to John Cavanagh, the Squamish area project director for the improvement project.
He and other members of the highway improvement team laid out pre-design maps and descriptions for local residents in small group meetings last month and in public open houses this month.
The pre-design documents show that the highway will be four lanes from just north of Murrin Park to Depot Road with gateway treatments at both ends.
Proposed features in between the two gateways may include centre median barriers, raised median barriers, roadside bike/pedestrian paths, curbs and gutters.
The highway improvement team wants local feedback on the plans as they exist now so that the wishes of the community can be taken into account when the preliminary designs are created early next year. Preliminary designs evolve into detailed designs and the improvement project team expects to hold detailed design consultations next year.
As the plans exist now, the improvement will result in new medians, new light controlled intersections and improved culverts to better manage water flows and fish values.
One of the most challenging areas to widen is between the Mamquam Blind Channel Bridge and Cleveland Avenue.
Cavanagh said that two potential designs exist for the bridge. "We can put one lane on each side of the existing bridge or we can build a two-lane bridge on the west side," Cavanagh said. No matter the final design, Cavanagh said that the Transportation Ministry won't need any of the land where the recently-built Squamish International Hostel resides on the east side of the highway.
He said that if a new bridge is chosen for the final design the highway right-of-way has to be expanded.
Along with the upgrading of the Blind Channel Bridge, the project will lead to the upgrading of the Stawamus River Bridge, but details of that project are subject to negotiations with the Squamish Nation. The Mamquam River Bridge will be twinned with a new two-lane span to the west.
The stretch of highway between Centennial Way and Industrial Way is still the subject of negotiations due to the proposed future developments in the business park. There will likely be a new light-controlled three-way intersection at Hwy. 99 at a new road into the business park. The new road is intended to improve access to the proposed Wal-Mart. There is also talk of a third access point off the highway to the north end of the business park.
John Millar, the environmental consultant on the highway improvement project said some aging culverts under the highway are slated for replacement while others will be extended and upgraded.The Mamquam Blind Channel culvert will be replaced by a cement culvert like the one installed under Loggers Lane this summer.
The culvert just north of the Mamquam River Bridge that connects the Mashiter spawning channels will be replaced with a wide bottom culvert that Millar said will be more effective than the existing culvert.
Millar said there are environmental concerns with the proposal to consider curbs and gutters."That is being looked at," he said of worries that the extra works will just add more impervious surfaces to the project.
Documentation from the highway improvement team indicates that discussions are under way with the District of Squamish to build something for cyclists. One option is to build a 1.5-metre bike lane on both sides of the highway. Another option is to build a separate pathway parallel to the highway on existing trails for use by cyclists and pedestrians.
The project team is distributing a comprehensive feedback form. They want constructive thoughts on the pre-design information.
The forms and more information about the pre-design plans can be viewed on the internet at www.seatoskyimprovements.ca or residents can visit the project office on Loggers Lane at the Forests Ministry office.
