Editor:
Some good news: previous letters written to the BC Minister of Transportation by the Sunshine Coast Highway Society in February and March 2024 have elicited a favourable reply. It appears the wait this time was worth it.
Looking through the detailed response from the minister (available on our website) we must applaud Sechelt Mayor John Henderson and his council. Thanks to their efforts there is a commitment to the following: installation of a badly needed new signalized intersection of Highway 101 at Shorncliffe Avenue, from the court house towards the Snickett Park beach area; a painted crosswalk at the foot of Mason Road across the highway––a great win for school children and everyone crossing at this popular location; confirmation that the repainting of lane lines is planned this spring and summer, improving the safety of the active transportation environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users.
So, kudos and thanks to the ministry and Mayor Henderson and his council.
On a less positive note, we still have concerns about the delayed “Alternative Route Planning Study” started in 2021, which is due to be finished later this spring. It is disappointing there has been no further consultation for almost two years as the draft study failed to answer our biggest concerns. Getting from Davis Bay through Sechelt and on to West Sechelt efficiently and safely has still not been addressed.
Keeping the existing two-lane highway with the ever-increasing traffic jams, travel delays, noise, exhaust fumes and accidents is not an answer. The real solution would be to go behind Tsain Ko Mall and the hospital.
While we appreciate the work on crosswalks and paint, they are not the solution to the fundamental issue. “The Sunshine Coast Needs a Highway.”
Robin Merriott
Sunshine Coast Highway Society
