Houses cut off as bridge to Glendale Avenue destroyed
The landslide that cut through Lions Bay this morning has taken out the bridge that connects Glendale Avenue to Crystal Falls Road, leaving those houses stranded.
Brett Calkin, manager of Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR), confirms the team has been called out to assist operations as a result of a debris torrent in the north arm of Magnesia Creek. In spite of bad visibility and high winds (still gusting to 100 km/hour), a helicopter has also been assigned.
Long-term resident Norma Rodgers was heading out for a dog walk at the time. She had just parked her car when she heard a sound. "I started hearing rumbling noises, and felt the vibration of the road moving under my car, so I hopped out."
Rodgers said she glanced at the clock in her car, which read 10:05 a.m. In front of her, the bridge leading to Glendale Avenue was buried under debris, and the path of the slide was "just mud and broken stumps."
Rodgers was able to exit the area before the fire department arrived to direct traffic on the Sea to Sky.
The highway is completely blocked by the slide in both directions just south of the Brunswick Beach exit.
Reports that houses in the area have been damaged by the landslide have not been confirmed, however Emergency Support Services Director Mary Brown says that five homes have been evacuated in Brunswick Beach below the highway as a precautionary measure.
Brown is asking people to stay away from the scene until further notice. "Multiple hydro lines are down and the train tracks may be energized," she said this afternoon.
She confirms that if volunteer help is needed, there will be a public call-out, and that conditions are currently too treacherous for untrained personnel to be nearby.
She says that BC Hydro has been informed and is enroute. Power may be cut off to the entire village in order to ensure safety at the scene of the landslide and in nearby areas.
A meeting of emergency services personnel is currently being conducted and more information will be made available soon.
Brown recommends all local residents download the Alertable App for the latest updates in this, and any local emergency.
The Watershed welcomes your thoughts. Leave your comments below, or email us at editor@lionsbaywatershed.ca
Like what you're reading? For as little as $5/month, you can support local independent journalism by subscribing to The Watershed HERE.
Comments