If you are heading out on the Sea to Sky Highway today, here is everything you need to know about the current road conditions.
Today's driving weather
According to , a strong ridge of high pressure is expected to build over southern B.C. later this weekend into early next week, resulting in sunshine and warmer temperatures.
Daytime temperatures are forecast to climb into the upper 20s C on Sunday, persisting into next week.
The ridge of high pressure is anticipated to dominate the coastal region for several days with little precipitation.
The weather often changes along the Sea to Sky Highway; drivers are warned it is a mountain pass, after all.
ICBC offers the following advice for drivers: Maintain a safe following distance. In good weather, stay at least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead of you or three seconds on a highway. In bad weather [like rain], increase your following distance to four seconds.
Crashes happen on the Sea to Sky Highway.
Sometimes, there can be lengthy road closures of five hours or more, while a serious crash is investigated and cleared.
That means travellers should be prepared to be stopped for that long in the heat.
Be sure to carry plenty of water, snacks, a pillow, blanket, car charger, and a first aid kit.
Hats and sunscreen can come in handy as well.
Watch for wildlife
Watch for wildlife as deer, coyotes, and bears have recently been seen along or on the highway in our region.
Report any wildlife sightings or encounters to the Conservation Officer Service Hotline at 1.877.952.7277.
The provides the following tips to help drivers avoid hitting wildlife on highways:
- Be extra cautious at dawn, dusk, and night—these are peak animal movement times
- Follow posted speed limits and scan the ditches for movement or for the reflection of eyes from your headlights
- Slow down when you see an animal—some animals like deer freeze in panic, while moose may run along the road
- Many animals travel in groups, so if you see one, slow down until you are well past
- Obey wildlife warning signs—they’re placed in high-risk areas based on real data
- Never swerve suddenly to avoid an animal, as this can lead to a more serious collision—brake firmly and stay in your lane
- Use high beams when possible to spot animals sooner
Forest service roads
For full forest service road access reports, go to.
If you are new to driving FSRs,
Traffic events & roadwork alerts
Check out our map below, full of events happening along Highway 99.
Click on any of the pins to see more information about each event.
Stay safe out there.
Spit Road closure
The District announced this morning (July 4) that there is a temporary road closure for Spit Rd.
"[We have] been advised that Spit Road will be temporarily closed at Culvert #2 to allow for invasive species removal," reads a
"All work is being completed according to best management practices provided by the Province of BC and in consultation with the Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council (SSISC)."
The work will take up to two weeks to complete and it is anticipated that the road will be closed to the public through to July 18.
"Please respect road and trail closure signage. Thanks for your patience while this work is being completed!" the District said.
Gas Prices as of June 14
The removal of the carbon tax has had an impact on local gas prices.
In Squamish today, regular gas in town is going for 159.9 cents per litre at most area stations. That is the cheapest in the corridor.
Before the carbon tax was removed, gas in town was at about 178.9¢/L
(The B.C. government cancelled the carbon tax by introducing legislation to drop the rate to $0, effective April 1.)
In Whistler, regular gas is on offer for 161.9¢/L, at the CO-OP at 2101 Lake Placid Rd.
In Pemby, gas is on offer for 159.9¢/L, at AC Gas, 7432 Prospect St.
For comparison, GasBuddy reports that average gas prices in Prince George are lower—124.8¢/L at Super Save Gas on Victoria Street.
But, if you are on your way to Vancouver, the cheapest gas we could find there today was at the ESSO & 7-Eleven at 5059 Canada Way in Burnaby, where petrol is 144.9¢/L, at the pump, again according to .
Duffey news
If you drive The Duffey (Duffey Lake Road—Highway 99 to non-locals), you have likely wondered if the dang road is set to be repaved anytime soon.
Well, we have the answer.
The Ministry of Transportation and Transit tells The ¾¢±¬´ó¹Ï that there are plans to complete 15 km of hard surfacing on Highway 99 between Cayoosh Bridge and Boulder Creek Bridges, 10 to 25 km west of Lillooet.
This work will occur this year at a time yet to be determined.
So, that is something!
