By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: Aug. 18, 2012
A group of Powell River residents want the province to fund a road that will connect Powell River to Squamish.
The Third Crossing Society, a citizens group in Powell River, is advocating for a road they say will provide a third crossing from the Island, while creating a transportation corridor to the BC Interior.
It will require the building of 30 kilometers of new road and upgrading 185 kilometers of existing logging roads between Powell River and the Sea to Sky Highway.
The route would go from Highway 10 of the Upper Sunshine Coast and connect to Highway 99 through Squamish Valley Road and Brackendale.
The society’s president, Tom Wheeler, said the road would benefit all the communities it connects.
It will, he said, relieve pressure on and extend the economic life of the existing southern ferry infrastructure, particularly the Horseshow Bay and other terminals.
It will also provide an emergency route through the mountains in the event of a major earthquake, provide an alternate route to the Interior traffic, and make better use of the Comox/ Powell River ferry.
But the real Road to Damascus moment, Wheeler hopes, would be way this road will spur the sluggish economy.
There is a long list of benefits the road can provide, Wheeler says.
“It will boost tourism, and provide for an efficient movement of goods and services,” Wheeler said.
“This is something that makes sense.”
It would have to make a lot of sense to the decision makers because there is a big cost attached to the project: An estimated $503 million.
A portion of that road, Wheeler agrees, would have to be cut through rough terrain.
Wheeler said he hopes the province can fund this project with some additional funding from the federal government.
“Perhaps there can be tolls on the roads, but I think we need this access route,” he said.
A similar road access has been planned before, he added.
In 1994 a proposed route was professionally mapped. The route was confirmed by helicopter flights.
In 2001 paper reconnaissance survey work was completed, digital mapping studies have been conducted and a proposed route, very similar to the 1994 route, was determined.
In 2006 a virtual “fly through”, based on digital TRIM mapping and aerial and satellite photography was conducted.
Squamish wood industry consultant Eric Andersen said a road link from Powell River to Squamish is an old idea—as old as the late 1850s Fraser River Gold Rush.
The route over the Ashlu River is, of course, an old trading route of the Sechelt and Squamish peoples.
“Today, there are logging roads throughout this Coast Range mountain district — almost connecting Jervis Inlet with the Upper Squamish drainage,” Andersen said.
Third Crossing Society’s Wheeler said the project has support from Powell River Regional Board, and from local councillors.
Members of the Third Crossing Society are soon planning a trip to Squamish to meet with the community and tell them about the road connection between Powell River and Squamish.
Squamish Resident says
LOVE THIS!! Road Construction jobs and access to the ferry to Comox as well as Powell River?! YES, please!!!
David says
There is already a pass through the upper Squamish to the Sunshine Coast using logging roads. A formal public route will require cooperation from the Squamish First Nation, who I have been given to understand are not interested. Lots of luck!
Stéphane says
Yes, an old idea, but a good one.
Eric Andersen says
This will be a long term cause for Powell River to pursue, probably. Squamish has “been there”, in the past, in having to lobby to alleviate lack of roads and relative isolation. The reality is, with limited public monies available, improvements to the road linkage between Squamish/Pemberton and Lillooet and Highway 97 would be much more important to more people, interests and the province as a whole. But we can give Powell River moral support. It is government revenues from resource industries in places like Powell River and Interior BC which mostly paid for our fancy Howe Sound highway upgrade.
Tom Wheeler says
I agree that the road from Lillooet Pemberton to Squamish deserves attention and would be a great benefit along hiway 97. I think this part of the hiway would get that needed attention if there was a link from highway 101 to hiway 99 to create that traffic between the Island and the mainland. At present everything has to go through the Lower Mainland. We believe our Third Crossing concept would help to diversify the economyto the north island, the North Sunshine Coast, along hiway 99 and beyond. Thank you for your moral support anyway.
Lance says
August 1970-42 years ago a group of teenage boys from Powell River and Squamish
hiked the proposed route. Less bridges and logging road back then, more bears,
bugs and bush. If one google searches Dogwood Trek the full story with pictures
can be found.
Ali Fershani says
A great idea whose time has come .
Campbell River Resident says
Could you believe how amazing this would be if it went through!!! I’ve always thought if Powell River got a Road couldn’t they just connect Campbell River through Cortes,Read,Quadra islands with the Sarah Point Rd. out of Lund. Think how much this would stimulate the North Island and Islands! Obviously when dreaming anything is possible but it is a step in the right direction!
Sechelt Resident, Doug Hockley says
Now is the time to start speaking up about this idea of connecting Hwy. 101 North to Hwy. 99 ….The Northern & Southern Sunshine Coast would benefit from this connection as it also possible to link both sections to Squamish and to each other without having to rely on ferries. The tourism boom would be overwhelming but boom to our economies. The scenic wonders of this Coastal Connection could draw people, especially Baby Boomer RV’ers from all over North America. New sports fishing opportunities, new skiing venues and new mountaineering access would create a magnet year round attraction to stimulate our economies. I would encourage any resident of the Sunshine Coast to support Liberal Party Candidate Patrick Muncaster in order to move this possibility forward.
Paul says
This will never happen and that’s because this idea makes too much sense and we all know that governments don’t follow common sense
cliff jones says
How about a toll road that would travel along the east side of Sechelt inlet and then
head west along the east heading arm of the inlet. A natural passage straight to the Squamish river and a short bridge to highway 99.. The tolls would pay for the road and the traveller would avoid four and five hour weekend waits at Langdale.
cliff jones says
I meant east along the east heading arm of the inlet..
Thanks
Raymond Kleinert says
The best idea is to connect Squamish to Port Mellon with low level roads along Howe Sound. After this put one bridge one on either side of Nelson Island to Powell River. This would leave the high elevations of the Tantalus Range alone. Furthermore the Islands Trust would not interfere with the connection from mainland to mainland. I don’t think it would be any more expensive than a route from Squamish to Powell River. Tourism would definetly benefit from this route. Tourism would pay much of the construction costs. Access to the Sunshine Coast would be permanent.