The provincial government is upping the speed limits on the Sea to Sky Highway.
Initiated last year, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure conducted a B.C.-wide review of highway speed limits and safety. Staff assessed approximately 9,100 kilometres of highway, including Highway 99.
“Safety on our highways is our number one priority and is the foundation for every decision that has resulted from this review,” transport minister Todd Stone stated in a press release.
Speed limits were adjusted for 35 sections of highway, covering 1,300 kilometres. Speed limits along 35 kilometres of Hwy. 99 from the Eagle Ridge interchange, near Horseshoe Bay, to south of the Stawamus River Bridge near Squamish will be upped from 80 to 90 kilometres.
The speed limit on the Sea to Sky north of Depot Road in Squamish, to Function Junction in Whistler will jump from 80 and 90 to 100 kilometres. The same increase will be seen east of Lillooet near the Pavilion Lime Plant to the Highway 97 junction.
The speed limit increases are supported by an engineering assessment of each section and are approved by the transport ministry’s chief engineer.
“The actions we’re taking were the subject of a thorough technical review by our engineers, and the ministry is committed to ongoing monitoring and evaluation of speed limits and other highway safety measures,” Stone said.
The ministry is also focusing on bringing forward changes to the Motor Vehicle Act that would give police better tools to enforce slower vehicles to keep in the right lane. Diminishing wildlife collisions was highlighted. Staff promised to continue monitoring wildlife incidents and identifying high risk sections of the road.
The number of serious crashes on B.C. highways has decreased by 28 per cent since 2003, the ministry reported. The drop is a direct result of targeted and strategic enforcement, driver education, improved vehicle technology and increased penalties, the release noted.
