There are growing calls for the B.C. government to take action to make the busy Sea to Sky Highway safer.
Numbers from ICBC show there were 167 crashes on the road between Vancouver and Whistler in 2024, which is an average of one every two days.
About half of those crashes resulted in injuries or death, ICBC found.
Local road safety advocates say those crashes often happen on stretches of the highway that do not have dividers between opposing lanes and they are calling for the road to be modernized.
“Perhaps some increased centre medians would be good,” Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford said.
“I think there’ve been some crashes where some additional concrete barricades on the side would have been good. There’s different ways to manage the traffic. If there is a closure, you know, of course, we’re looking for alternate ways to get folks off the highway.”
The Sea to Sky Highway was first paved in 1966, but underwent a $775-million renovation before the 2010 Winter Olympics, according to TransCanadaHighway.com.
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Safety advocates say it’s time to perform some upgrades.
“This design is 25 or 30 years old now,” Matthew Paugh, who is the administrator of the Sea to Sky Road Conditions group, said.
“It’s been 16 years since the Olympics. Seven years before that was when we were awarded it, which means the engineering plans had to be minimum three or four years in place before that. It’s just not the same. So the infrastructure needs and the population demands are very different.”
Paugh also says the Ministry of Transportation needs to do a better job of communicating with drivers when an incident causes the highway to close.
“We’re always looking at ways that we can improve and obviously, if the issue of medians is a way we can improve, we will most certainly take a look at that, but one of the most important things is for people to drive the speed limit,” B.C. Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth said.
Drivers won’t slow down unless there’s continuous speed traps. I say go all in on a continuous four lane divided highway for the entire Highway. Some stretches would be certainly tricky especially sections between lines Bay and Porteau Cove. Outside of accidents, tourist congestion between the four lane down to two lanes sections also create bottlenecks.
I would also suggest making it a toll Highway to help pay for the upgrades, I toll that would be exempt for a sea to sky residences. Otherwise at best put in a center median there is space.
There is nothing wrong with the sea to sky highway, it’s the morons behind the wheel travelling it. What you desperately need in BC is motor vehicle safety enforcement (speed, distracted driving, traffic violations). Why is it that 40-60% of the motorists don’t know that it’s an infraction to turn across double solid lines? Because they’re self-entitled idiots that need to be severely ticket and forced to take a driver’s training upgrade. Yes, I’m talking about you Fucbinder
The problem is ICBC and RCMP not keeping ng DLS away from recurring ticket holders, or simply not being strict enough for speeding, red light and stop sign rollers, yadda yadda. Same old story. No one fears losing their DL so with that, speeding 2x the limit, does not handle any infrastructure design element, no matter where in the world it is. Better people don’t have bad driving behaviour. No one wants to be told what to do now. Toddlers with bank accounts.
I agree with more barriers however we need to fund the West Vancouver and the RCMP in Squamish Police to be able to have more enforcement
People do not slow down going through lions Bay even people with American license plates
Too many people tailgating, and also not moving over when necessary
The suggestion might be photo radar cameras in the straight stretches
After a long day of ski and then eating meals in Whistler and then driving South I’m wondering if people are too tired. I’m not paying attention or they’re in a rush. also may be contributing to accidents.
Here’s a novel idea: REDUCE THE SPEED LIMIT
It’s weird people are blaming minorities because the worst drivers I see on the Sea To Sky are always white guys from Tri-Cities/Surrey in muscle cars or big trucks trying to drive everyone off the road
Mandatory driver testing every 5 years.The Lower Mainland is plagued with incompetent drivers,I see it every day.
It’s comparable to the streets of India here
I’m curious about the driving records of those causing the crashes. And if they have real licenses and insurance.
Get in line for cash pal. The Sea to Sky was improved for 2010 Games. The highway is fine, the drivers need improving, slowing down and paying attention. The Ironworkers road bridge needs replacing first.
AS LONG AS FINES are NEVER INCREASED, and ZERO CONSEQUENCES FOR SPEEDING. SAME FINES FOR LAST 50 YEARS. TAKE CAR AWAY FOR a FEW DAYS, NO BIG DEAL. NOTHING WILL CHANGE. KEEP IT REAL