Sunshine Coasters should find out soon when, and how, they’ll be able to weigh in on the idea of a fixed link to the Lower Mainland.
The provincial government awarded a $250,000 contract to R.F. Binnie and Associates in February. The firm is looking into possible highway links from Powell River to Squamish and the lower Sunshine Coast to Squamish, or another point on the Sea-to-Sky Highway.
Liberal MLA Jordan Sturdy (West Vancouver-Sea to Sky) held invitation-only meetings earlier this summer with representatives from local governments, First Nations and groups like Chambers of Commerce.
Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) chair Garry Nohr said that at the meeting he attended people seemed to be leaning toward support for a fixed link of some sort. Nohr said the biggest question he had was what a fixed link might mean for ferry service.
“The impression we got very strongly was that there wouldn’t be regular car ferry at all,” he said. “They would still promote the idea of passenger [only] ferries.”
Nohr also said some at the meeting suggested Highway 101 would need upgrading to deal with extra traffic from Powell River if there’s a southern fixed link, but no direct connection between Powell River and Squamish. He also said the invited stakeholders were divided on whether a route around Howe Sound or some sort of bridge would be the best option.
The SCRD board hasn’t taken a formal position on the fixed link. Nohr said it’s being left to each area director to speak for constituents on the issue.
A Ministry of Transportation official told Coast Reporter the public will have the opportunity for input this fall, and details will be made public in the coming weeks.
In a July 15 letter to Nohr, Transportation Minister Todd Stone said the plan is for a series of open houses and an interactive website.
The ministry official also said the consultants are still expected to deliver a final report before the end of the year.
