Capilano Highway Services recently completed work on improvements to a pullout at Trout Lake, making a wheelchair accessible dock easier to find and to access.

“We noted that the structure was not very visible from the road and surmised that many people probably did not know it existed,” said Tyler Lambert, manager of roads with Capilano Highway Services.

The accessible dock was put in place in 2007 by the Sechelt Rotary Club in partnership with the Sunshine Coast Regional District to encourage those with mobility issues to visit the lake.

However, the structure was hard to spot from the road and has drawn only sporadic use by those with mobility challenges over the years.

“We thought it was a neat structure and something everybody should know about,” Lambert said, explaining why they chose the project. “We hope that people will use it now that they hopefully can find it.”

On Thursday, Oct. 18, Capilano Highway Services and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure officially unveiled the new Trout Lake pullout, complete with signage to draw attention to the accessible dock.

Capilano Highway Services donated their labour and equipment for the project while the Ministry funded the effort that cost about $5,500.

“Improvements to the site included select tree removal and regrading to allow better surface drainage, gravel resurfacing of the parking area, reconfiguration of the area to promote parallel parking, the addition of bark mulch and cedar chips to the non-vehicle accessible areas, and the installation of a sign indicating the location of the wheelchair accessible dock facility,” Lambert said.

He hopes the public will come to Trout Lake to enjoy the dock now that it’s easier to get to and more visible from the highway.