If you have ridden your bike in downtown Squamish, on Victoria Street in particular, you know it is not for the faint of heart. Cyclists have the choice to basically ride beside parked cars down the centre of the road, or head for the sidewalk. Neither is a safe option.
It is this problem that the District’s Victoria Street Active Transportation Upgrades project aims to solve.
Work to install new protected bike lanes along the street is already underway and will last for about four months, the District says.
“This project will link downtown with the new Pedestrian Bridge over the Mamquam Blind Channel. This will result in an improved active transportation link to and from southern Squamish neighbourhoods through SEAandSKY to downtown Squamish for people of all ages and abilities,” the District says on its project website.
Protected bike lanes are physically separated from vehicles either vertically—up the curb at the same or similar height as the sidewalk—or horizontally with a barrier,” according to the report to council on Feb. 14, 2023.
The construction will mean the elimination of 27 parking spaces: 11 on Victoria Street and 16 on Main Street, the report notes.
“This project will allow a safer cycling connection once the bridge over the Mamquam Blind Channel is completed, keeping cycling lanes and driving lanes on Victoria Street separated,” a District spokesperson told The Squamish Chief.
Construction impacts
The District alerts visitors to the following impacts as a result of the construction.
- Work will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday to Friday.
- Elevated noise levels in the vicinity of the work area.
- Short-term traffic disruptions due to construction activities and vehicles.
- This work is weather-dependent. All efforts are being made to minimize impacts to the area.
- Localized road closures along Victoria Street may be required.
