Travelers on Skyline Drive will have to negotiate a lower speed limit and a series of speed bumps according to a District of Squamish council motion passed on Tuesday night (June 19).
The motion came on the heels of a presentation by Skyline Drive residents concerned about increasing traffic levels on the road."Skyline Drive has become a major thoroughfare due to the fact that the vast majority of northbound traffic from the Highlands uses it to get to Highway 99," said Nick Pascuzzi, resident spokesperson. "There is now an unacceptable level of danger on Skyline Drive for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists."
Council responded to the petition by calling for traffic calming measures to be implemented by July.
"First and foremost is the safety of residents," said Mayor Ian Sutherland. "We should be putting in a series of speed bumps, and that work should be done immediately. I mean in the next two weeks."
The speed bumps will be installed in the westbound lane heading downhill. Speed bumps will not be installed in the eastbound uphill lane so that emergency vehicles can have unimpeded access.
Staff was also directed to decrease the posted speed limit in the area by 10 km per hour.
"We should go down to 40 km, and we should make sure that there is some enforcement of that," said Coun. Mike Jenson.
Council advised staff to investigate placing cement barricades on portions of Skyline Drive to protect cyclists and pedestrians and the possibility of installing a traffic circle at the bottom of the road.
While the two dozen residents who turned out to the meeting said they were pleased with the measures taken by council, they want the speed bumps to be only a temporary solution.
"I'm pleased that this is going ahead," said Pascuzzi. "But ultimately we'd like to see Pia Road extended down to Newport Ridge as initially planned in the OCP. It's designed for high levels of traffic and would take cars away from Skyline Drive."
A number of accidents have occurred on Skyline Drive in recent months. Two weeks ago an alleged drunk driver lost control and drove through a brick wall and light standard and hit a parked Ford F-150, driving it into a garage door.
