The steady influx of visitors has led to increasing calls from locals to close down the highway or create controls to limit or stop visitors from coming to town.
It won’t happen, province says.
Province says it has currently no plans to shut down the Sea to Sky Highway or any provincial roadways due to COVID-19.
“The province’s transportation network is not only critical to keeping our supply chains open, but is also essential for the people who rely on our roadways, buses, ferries and commercial passenger vehicles,” according to an update from the Ministry of transportation and Infrastructure.
“Our interconnected transportation system helps ensure people in every part of the province continue to have access to the items they need, including food and medicine.”
The ministry has also not blocked access to or from private land on any of the public roads in BC either.
However, people can contact their local authority if they have any concerns with violations of any of the Provincial Health Officer orders, ministry added.
Bylaw officers will not be directly handing out tickets or detaining people who are breaking the PHO’s direction or orders.
However, bylaw and compliance officers can give information and clear evidence of potential contraventions of a public health order- such as gatherings of more than 50 people or a store defying orders to close.
Meanwhile, the ministry said they have not been contacted by the District of Squamish about highway closures so far.
“We are in constant communication with all levels of government during the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to a statement from the ministry.
Ralph Fulber says
People get a grip.. Imagine if Vancouver decided to close access to the city? Since we seem to be pretty good at stretching the curve this will return in the fall and last through another winter. This isn’t a sprint it’s a marathon.
Katrina says
People need to start listening and staying in their own community for this time being! Not sure what people do not get stay home unless it is essential, people are traveling up here to camp and that
Is not essential and it’s not only a few I watched hundreds of cars pass up this squamish valley road and even more the following day! Stay home stop traveling to places you should not be going to!
Ellen says
If people are unable to prove they live here or have an essential service to give, then they should be fined and go back where they came from. Yes we are all bored being home but this is what it takes to flatten the curve, get with the program everyone!