Garibaldi Highlands residents will notice that work on The Boulevard resumed this week. The work will include the completion of a retaining wall and a paved and raised bike lane adjacent to the downhill lane.
According to the District of Squamish, work resumed on Monday (March 8) and will continue until May 31.
The project began last fall, however a contractor error resulted in the curbs on Highlands Way South to be placed in the wrong location, making the roadway too narrow.
It then stopped for several months due to weather, according to a notice sent by acting manager of engineering Brian Barnett this week.
"In response to the construction error and resulting delays, the District of Squamish has made some changes to the project team," states Barnett.
"We have retained a local engineering firm to oversee the construction work and provide daily site inspection. This will provide enhanced monitoring and expedite any decisions that will need to be made when construction resumes.
"We also met with the contractor and reviewed the project schedule and the remaining work, including modifications to the curbs. We are confident the project team is now properly organized and prepared to resume construction."
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale brought up concerns over the project during a Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday (March 9), saying the Highlands Way South cycle path should be left as is with gravel, not asphalt, to deter cyclists from barrelling down the hill at high speeds.
"If we put in a cycling lane, with or without the no-post it's dedicated, so it's 'OK guys, it's free game and away we go' and particularly for the inexperienced," she said. "I think we're creating a problem if we're creating a cycling lane - period."
Gottardi defended the bike lane by adding the district can not protect people from making poor decisions.
"I don't think we can protect people that behave recklessly," he said.
"We have to protect reasonable people with reasonable behaviour and that's what the standards are intended to do."
Following an in depth discussion on design options, Barnett pointed out the district has already spent $120,000 on the creation of the raised bike lanes and removing it would also cost the municipality money.
Residents with questions are asked to call Barnett at 604-815-6878 or send an email to [email protected].
"Please remember to slow down while driving through the construction site," said Barnett. "We apologize for the inconveniences caused by the construction and we will do our best to minimize delays."
Discover Trail tree removal begins
Anthem Properties Group sent out a notice this week advising the public that controversial tree removal along Discovery Trail in the Industrial park will begin Monday (March 15). Trail users will be redirected away from the trail between Pioneer Road and Commercial Way toward Discovery Way for the duration of the work, which will take place from March 15 to April 1.
Developers of the new Holiday Inn, Anthem Properties, requested the tree removal plan for the sake of highway visibility, and came under fire as organizations like the Squamish Trails Society and the Squamish River and Watershed Society had concerns over the Discovery Trail and a nearby water system.
After weeks of community consultation, stakeholder groups, an agreement was reached to limit trees to five patches while three gaps would be created from Industrial Way to Commercial Way.
Council members expressed their delight with the collaborative compromise stakeholders, municipal staff and Anthem created.
