Winter Update 2007
Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement Project

Winter construction proceeds on the Upper Levels section of Highway 1. When complete, this segment pictured will carry two new eastbound lanes and new highway entry lanes from the BC Ferry terminal at Horseshoe Bay. This work is part of the construction of the connector for the overland route. The large new mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall in the last picture measures about 130 metres long and over 12 metres deep.

Construction of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls through an approximate 3 km section of the Sea-to-Sky Highway in the area of Windy Point north of Tunnel Point. Photos show various stages of construction of the unique walls, including crews preparing the ground for the wall foundation, and the evolving assembly of the earth-filled and metal grid-reinforced structures. When complete, the new retaining walls will carry two new lanes of south bound traffic.

Winter construction at the Shannon Creek Bridge shows rebar in place for the west abutment and a thawed Shannon Creek with new forms in place for concrete pour of the east abutment. The two last photos are taken at the crest of the Darrell Bay rock cut, just south of Shannon Falls. Nearly 80,000 cubic metres of material (the equivalent of about 500 railway box cars) will be removed to widen the highway.

Improved section south of Whistler in the Cheakamus Canyon to Rubble Creek area. This section has gentler curves, alternating passing lanes, improved pullouts and chain-up areas. Other safety improvements in this section include wider shoulders, significantly improved sightlines, shoulder and centreline rumble strips. Last photo shows crews moving utility lines in the Brandywine area in preparation for highway widening. The highway will be three lanes between Squamish and Whistler with an alternating passing lane.

Photo Gallery Home Page • Cheakamus to Function Junction - Spring 2006