Hasn't that construction at the gateway to Squamish — the Highway 99 and Cleveland Avenue intersection — been going on a long time?
If you drive, walk or ride in and out of Squamish, you have probably asked yourself this question in recent weeks.
The long-awaited project to make the intersection safer by widening Highway 99 to accommodate a new southbound acceleration lane from Cleveland Avenue entering the highway was announced by the provincial government in the spring.
Work was to start at the beginning of June and be completed around July 15th.
The area has long been a concern due to the number of accidents and near-misses at this spot.
The southbound lane, in particular, is prone to crashes, as shown in a report by the ministry, ICBC and the District of Squamish back in 2016.
The study made recommendations to reduce collisions that included the acceleration lane.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure told The Squamish Chief the current anticipated completion date of the acceleration lane is mid-September.
The original completion date was unable to be met due to "issues with securing resources and the availability of sub-contractors," a ministry spokesperson said.
"The contractor is permitted to work evenings. However, weekend work is not approved," the Ministry spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said that ministry staff have kept District of Squamish staff regularly updated on the project's progress.
"The ministry apologizes for any inconvenience to travellers in the area caused by the delay in project completion."
Asked about the delay, District staff said they recognize the construction's impact on residents and visitors.
"[We] look forward to these much-needed improvements that will address traffic flow and safety concerns at this busy intersection once the construction comes to an end," said District spokesperson Rachel Boguski.
