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NEWS RELEASE
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For Immediate Release Oct. 1, 2010 |
Office of the Premier
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SEA-TO-SKY HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WORKERS HONOURED
SQUAMISH – Premier Gordon Campbell and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Shirley Bond today joined workers to recognize their contributions towards the Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement project.
“The commemorative plaque we unveil today includes the names of 2,124 people who were involved in the six years of planning, engineering, design and construction of the vastly improved Sea-to-Sky Highway from West Vancouver to Whistler,” said Premier Campbell. “Their dedication and commitment has resulted in a safer, more efficient highway for all British Columbians and I want to thank each of them for their contributions.”
The $600-million project used the most innovative engineering techniques available and features more passing lanes, smoother curves, better sightlines, highly-reflective pavement markings and more effective intersections.
Specific upgrades include:
o 80 kilometres of new passing lanes between Horseshoe Bay and Whistler.
o Four lanes from Horseshoe Bay to Lions Bay.
o Three and four-lane sections from north of Lions Bay to Squamish.
o Four lanes through Squamish.
o Three lanes from Squamish to Whistler.
o Shoulder and centreline rumble strips and additional median barriers.
o Wider shoulders for safety and to accommodate cyclists and disabled vehicles.
o Better pullouts and opportunities for police enforcement along the highway.
o Bridges built to withstand damage from floods and debris torrents from mountain creeks.
o Enhanced monitoring of road conditions by electronic weather stations to improve highway maintenance response during winter weather and provide real-time road condition information to travellers through DriveBC.
“We undertook this project to significantly upgrade the safety, reliability and capacity of the highway, and to serve population growth and economic development in the important Highway 99 corridor,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Shirley Bond. “The people of British Columbia have received an outstanding upgrade to this beautiful stretch of highway.”
The Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement Project earned national recognition, receiving the Gold Award for Infrastructure from the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (P3’s). This project was delivered by the S2S Transportation Group, which is now responsible for maintenance of the highway.
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Media Contacts: |
Dale Steeves Director of Communications Office of the Premier 250 361-7783 |
Dave Crebo Communications Director Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure 250 387-7787 |
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