If you are heading out on the Sea to Sky Highway this week, here's what you need to know before you hit the road.
Today's driving weather
Squamish meteorologist Jason Ross says high pressure rebuilds over the south coast today with another round of warmer temperatures.
Another weak front arrives Thursday, with clouds, cooler temperatures, and a chance of showers; warmer, drier conditions are expected to return late in the week.
For today, May 28, we will reach a high of 30 C (!!!) and dip to a low of 13 C overnight. Rain is expected to begin overnight.
The weather often changes along the Sea to Sky Highway; drivers are warned it is a mountain pass, after all.
(There was snowfall on the Duffey Lake Road on May 19!)
ICBC offers the following advice for drivers: Maintain a safe following distance. In good weather, stay at least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead of you or three seconds on a highway. In bad weather [like rain], increase your following distance to four seconds.
Motorcycle awareness
May is Motorcycle Awareness Month.
According to RoadSafeBC, half of all motorcycle crashes in B.C. (2019–2023) happened at intersections.
Here are some ICBC tips for drivers who are sure to encounter multiple motorcycles on the Sea to Sky:
-
Scan intersections carefully and take an extra moment to look for motorcycles when you're turning left.
-
Stay alert and avoid distractions that take your mind off driving or your eyes off the road.
-
Allow at least three seconds of following distance when behind a motorcycle.
-
Give as much space as possible when passing a motorcycle. Maintain a distance of at least one metre in areas with a maximum speed limit of 50 km and at least 1.5 metres in areas with speed limits above 50 km.
-
Be ready to yield as a motorcycle is often closer than it seems. Remember it can be hard to tell how fast they're travelling.
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.
The Ministry of Transportation and Transit tells 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 will occur this year at a time yet to be determined.
So, that is something!
Now onto other things to know if you are driving in the Sea to Sky today.
Watch for wildlife
Watch for wildlife as deer, coyotes and bears have recently been seen along or on the highway in our region.
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
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.
Driving events to note
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.
Stay safe out there.
Spit Road closure
The Squamish Training Berm will be temporarily closed now until May 31, the Squamish River Watershed Society says.
"The Central Estuary Restoration Project continues as we install a fourth large fish-friendly box culvert," a social media post from the society notes.
"This feature will replace the current undersized culvert, which will improve fish access and allow freshwater to transfer into the central estuary channel from the Squamish River."
According to a District post, access is closed to car traffic at the Fisherman's entrance—yellow gate—with bike and pedestrian access to remain open.
Gas prices
The removal of the 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 171.9¢/L, at the Chevron at 8110 Crazy Canuck Dr.
In Pemby, gas is on offer for 159.9¢/L, at the AC Gas, located at 7432 Prospect St.
For comparison, according to Gas Buddy, some of the cheapest gas in B.C. is at the Costco in Prince George, located at 2555 Range Rd which is going for 129.9 ¢/L.
