BC Ferries is apologizing to customers this week after significant delays plagued the Langdale-Horseshoe Bay route for several weeks.
Frustrations seemed to boil over for many on Monday, June 17.
By 11:25 a.m., BC Ferries issued a travel advisory that the Queen of Surrey was operating 38 minutes behind schedule due to traffic delays. The delays got worse throughout the day, and by 7:15 p.m. another update was issued saying the Surrey was operating 85 minutes behind schedule, forcing the cancellation of one evening sailing to get the vessel back on schedule.
Deborah Marshall, executive director, public affairs, said BC Ferries understands the frustration the public is experiencing.
She said the delays are in part a result of the current exit ramp repairs at Horseshoe Bay and the other construction projects that have been ongoing over the past six months at both the Horseshoe Bay and Langdale terminals.
"The good news is the exit lane project should be finished this week, as soon as the structural engineer confirms yesterday's [June 17] concrete pour has cured to the appropriate strength," Marshall said. "The exit lane work is part of the holding compound for Langdale traffic (transfer deck compound life extension project). This project repaired delaminations in the concrete decking around corroded rebars and expansion joint repairs. These repairs were extensive and consumed a number of months to complete. Contractors will have to return in the fall to coat the deck surface with a membrane."
Marshall said with regards to the exit lanes, BC Ferries originally anticipated some large patch repairs, but following removal of the membrane, discovered the delamination was more widespread and repairs were done to the entire travel lanes' concrete roadway surface.
"The contractor has worked long shifts each day to perform the work as quickly as possible," she said. "We do apologize to our customers for the unacceptable delays we have experienced recently. This is aging infrastructure, which we are committed to maintaining and life extending, providing maximum value and safety to our passengers."
