A mid-summer catch-up with roads, water and hiking trails
Summer in BC is always marked by the sound of chainsaws and the inconvenience of road works, and 2024 is no exception. A long run of sunny days has helped facilitate the infrastructure projects that are in full swing in and around the village.
This week, while the line-painting of local streets is on hold, the re-surfacing of the quiet pavement on Highway 99 through the village is underway. Southbound traffic has been limited to a single lane while the initial grinding and levelling of the pavement gets going.
As noted in the August 2 Village Update, weather permitting, the remainder of the surfacing will be completed next week, which will require a complete closure of southbound lanes. Southbound traffic will be re-routed to share the northbound side for the duration.
On Thursday, Public Works Director of Operations Karl Buhr confirmed that the Alberta Creek Supply Augmentation Project (ASAP) is on track to be up and running later this month. With the rain in June, creek flows have not depleted as much as was feared, and the village remains at Level 1 Outdoor Water Use.
These conditions are a vast improvement from last year, where dry conditions led to more than a month-long trailhead parking closure beginning in August. Buhr also confirmed that data from trail counters is showing fewer hiker numbers this summer.
Figures in the Village Update indicate that July 2024 numbers peaked at just above 8,000 hikers compared with more than 10,000 the same month in 2023.
"The rain earlier this summer may have had some impact, as the hikers heading to Tunnel Bluff are going for the view," Buhr said.
As always, the highest numbers are registered on weekends, with hiker visits in the low hundreds on weekdays jumping to an average of 450 on Sundays and 650 on Saturdays through June and July.
In spite of slightly lower numbers, parking along village streets continues to be at a premium, with bylaw officers regularly erecting 'Parking Full' signs on Bayview Avenue by 8 a.m. on weekend mornings.
Have thoughts to share about infrastructure improvements? 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