Details are few but preparations are underway for a review of Highway 101.
The study was raised by Roberts Creek director Andreas Tize during a Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) transportation committee meeting last Thursday. “I learned that MOTI is doing a corridor evaluation between Sechelt and Gibsons and how traffic flows, so if there are any concerns for your community in that corridor, now would be the time to bring them up,” he told the committee.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure later confirmed that a study is imminent, but did not specify what section of highway will be reviewed. “Ministry staff are working on the terms of reference for a corridor review of Highway 101, and details around the study will be available once the terms are defined,” the spokesperson said.
“The study is a result of feedback from the community, including input received through the Sunshine Coast Fixed Link planning study.”
Robin Merriott, who spearheads highway advocacy group SC101, counts his organization among those whose feedback has prompted the review. “At least with a study they are aware of us. They are aware that … we do need improvements up here,” he said.
SC101 has been collecting signatures to bring provincial government attention to the highway, which they say can’t handle the increased traffic volume and should be improved or else a new highway built. They have met with Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons several times and he has agreed to present a petition of 6,500 signatures collected by the group at the legislature this spring.
The review follows remarks made by Transportation Minister Claire Trevena, who in November wrote in a letter to Sechelt council that despite increased tourist traffic and a growing population, the volume is not enough to justify the cost of a new highway.
She also wrote that $5.3 million has already been spent for highway improvements in the region in the past decade. An additional $2.5 million will be spent to rebuild a one-kilometre stretch of highway south of Lund.
Despite Trevena’s comments, Merriott told Coast Reporter their group is moving in the direction of lobbying for a new highway while also lobbying for safety improvements. “They can spend money improving this one… They say they have already done that, but it doesn’t look much different.”
According to RCMP Staff Sgt. Poppy Hallam, who spoke at a Sunshine Coast Regional District transit committee meeting, the Sunshine Coast RCMP responded to 344 collisions in 2018. The 10-year average is 355 collisions per year. Hallam said she was surprised to learn the number of collisions hasn’t increased in 10 years.
– With files from Sean Eckford
