Jul 31 2008
Massive Landslide Closes Sea-to-Sky Highway in BC
The Sea-to-Sky Highway, the only direct link from Vancouver to Whistler, British Columbia (BC), Canada, is closed due a massive landslide yesterday.
Boulders the size of trucks are strewn about the highway near Porteau Cove which has forced closure of the highway from the Furry Creek Bridge to Horseshoe Bay. Blasting and stabilization of the area is expected to take a few days with the road scheduled to re-open in five days.
Luckily the accident happened after the first annual Pemberton Festival, 20 minutes north of Whistler, when 40,000 people travelled this highway this past weekend. No injuries have been reported at this time.
The Sea-to-Sky highway literally takes you from the sea, Pacific Ocean, to the sky, Whistler Mountain. For years concerned residents of BC have been complaining about the dangers of the highway, even nicknaming it the ‘killer highway.’ Winding curves, two lane sections, narrow shoulders and falling rock have all contributed to over 800 accidents and 19 fatalities in the last five years.
The population along the highway continues to grow and many studies have been done to make the highway safer. Currently the Ministry of Transportation is undergoing a Sea-to-Sky highway improvement project to be finished in time for the Vancouver 2010 winter Olympics. Whistler will be home to skiing and sliding events.
In February 2007, a much smaller slide blocked a portion of the highway for a single day while major slide in 1991 closed the Sea-to-sky highway for 12 days. Check out many of the scenic highway webcams here.
