Residents are advised of upcoming logging truck traffic through Garibaldi Highlands. The logging trucks will be hauling timber harvest from the Cheekye basin.
The route designated for the hauling trucks will include the Ring Creek North FSR (Northside Connector), Garibaldi Park Road, upper Mamquam Road, University Boulevard, The Boulevard, Highlands Way South, and Mamquam Road, and ultimately leading to Hwy 99.
This route was chosen because Mamquam Ring Road is still closed.
The truck traffic is expected to start in early March, with approximately 10-12 loaded trucks daily, operating Monday to Friday, for about 8-9 weeks. Additionally, efforts will be made to minimize log hauling through the Garibaldi Highlands during school drop-off and pick-up times, prioritizing the safety of students and commuters alike.
The logging trucks will haul the inaugural timber harvest for the Squamish Community Forest, which starts the week of February 26, 2024. The harvest comes after a year of planning and outreach efforts, marking the start of logging operations in the Cheekye basin.
Spanning 11,303 hectares within the Traditional Territory of Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw, the forest encompasses various vital watersheds and natural landscapes, including Shannon Creek, Raffuse Creek, Stawamus River, Cheekye River, Mashiter Creek, Ring Creek, and the lower Mamquam River.
“A partnership between Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and the District of Squamish, the Squamish Community Forest is an exciting opportunity to jointly and sustainably manage the forest lands surrounding our community to reflect shared local values,” said Sarah Weber, the project manager of the SCF.
Squamish Community Forest was issued a Community Forest Agreement (CFA) by BC in December 2022. CFAs are area-based forest licences managed by local governments, community groups or First Nations for the community’s benefit. Each CFA provides the exclusive right to harvest timber in the Community Forest.
Key benefits of the Squamish Community Forest initiative include localized decision-making, long-term economic development, job creation, and heightened community engagement in forest management practices, Weber said.
Corinne Lonsdale says
Using the Boulevard as a truck route is so wrong and unnecessary. The District of Squamish should have figured out and implemented repair to the Ring Creek road 2 years ago! The Boulevard is heavily used by kids going to and from school, attending activities at the school , riding bikes ,walking and just playing . It is a residential neighbourhood and widely used by all other age groups and many cyclists. It was designated a non truck route until the washout of the Ring Creek piece. This fix should be a priority of Council. Get with it please!
Scott McQuade says
Thank you Corinne for your common sense. It’s frustrating that this isn’t a top priority for the DOS. A truck route directly through a residential area when an alternative is clearly available, and should have been addressed years ago, is a failure of planning priorities.
Wolfgang Wittenburg says
400-500 trucks over the time span indicated, and on roads designed for non-truck traffic? How are these large logging trucks going to navigate the tight roundabouts? What will be the impact on neighbourhoods when adding this heavy logging traffic to the already significant construction truck traffic and the otherwise vastly increased road usage due to new developments in the area? Isn’t it high time to reactivate the Ring Creek Road into a second access road? Questions, questions!
I am with Corinne, get your act together, District and Council! We need answers.
Tina says
It’s bad enough we have those giant two axel dump drunks ripping through our neighborhood. They can barely navigate the roundabouts, leave a trail of blinding dust behind them and especially don’t honor the speed limit in the school zones. I can’t imagine throwing logging trucks into the mix. I live up at the top of Mamquam Rd behind Coast Mountain Academy and we already have enough people speeding up and down this street.
This simply isn’t right. Smarten up DOS.
Jim says
I have witnessed a heavily loaded truck blow through (couldn’t stop) at the pedestrian crossing on the school side of the Quest bridge. It was coming downhill and didn’t have the brakes to stop in time as it was too heavy. A bunch of kids were waiting and about to wander out into the middle road. Terrifying! Until the Ring Creek Road is repaired then the DoS needs to mandate that all heavy vehicle traffic, (both construction and logging trucks) can’t be using this route before 9:30am and after 3pm.
Heidi says
As a resident of this neighbourhood it is so dangerous, noisy, disruptive and unpleasant that our residential streets are now used for large trucks. The roads are busy all day with dump trucks that are noisy and leave the streets filthy not to mention unsafe. Now we have another wave of logging trucks. Why is repairing lower Mamquam Rd not a priority? It’s about time the district put the tax paying residents ahead of the industry.
George says
This is insane. 500 logging trucks through a residential neighbourhood and a school zone? This will be a disaster. This is a huge failure on the part of the town.
Wolfgang Wittenburg says
It will actually be double that, if you think that they have to get there too. Are there really no other road alternatives to the logging area?
jeff mckenzie says
This is a city failure for DOS and more should be publicized. I’ve watched quietly as dump trucks have run up and down the boulevard for a couple yrs now and that was a deal the city made with Quests developers… “no trucks or const traffic on the BLVD”.
I know there are issues (geotechnical and political and ownership) but come on
city leaders, get the Ring Creek/Mamquam road open to the public. Do something that helps our city, and our citizens and our guests…..
David Colwell says
So wrong. Come on Council have some backbone!!!