What’s the difference between a closure and a delay?

A closure occurs when the highway is fully closed in both directions for one hour or longer at a given location. Closures are used to keep the public safe during work such as rock blasting.

No more closures are expected for the remainder of the Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement Project.

If any closures are needed, there will be advance notice on the Weekly Schedule page.

A delay happens when traffic in one or both directions is stopped for a period of 5 to 30 minutes at a given location. When crews can confine work to one side of the highway at a time, northbound and southbound traffic takes turns using the opposite side. This traffic control method is known as “single-lane alternating traffic.”

Where can I find closure and delay information?

A key Project goal is to manage traffic flow during construction to minimize disruption and maximize the predictability of closures and delays for highway users.

The Project’s travel information tools are regularly updated with the most current information, now limited to:

1. Weekly Schedule: confirmed schedule of closures and delays to perform the current week’s construction. The printer-friendly version includes the following planned week’s schedule.

How can I double check on closures and delays just before my trip?

For current daily information, you can call the Project Information line toll-free in Canada, 1-877-4SAFE99 (1-877-472-3399), or from outside Canada call 604-815-4010 (long distance charges apply. Operators are available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Can I be notified of any new or unforeseen highway closures?

Yes, you can sign up for Road Alerts and receive text message alerts about significant, unexpected delays or closures. Visit www.theweathernetwork.com/roadalerts/ or text ‘Sea to Sky’ to ROADS (76237). Cost per alert is 25 cents.

How long will I be delayed when there are multiple construction sites?

During non-closure, "off-peak" periods, just remember “30-30-45.”

When closures are not in effect, traffic is coordinated between all work sites so that delays per trip add up to no more than:

• 30 minutes between West Vancouver and Squamish
• 30 minutes between Squamish and Whistler
• 45 minutes between West Vancouver and Whistler

Construction speed zones, traffic and weather conditions also affect travel time. It’s always best to plan ahead and allow extra time to reach your destination.

My travel period isn’t covered in the Weekly Update. Where can I find more information?

At this point in the project, delays should be minimal. The staff at the project information line 1-877-4SAFE99 (1-877-472-3399) are available 24/7 or you can email us at roadclosuresanddelays@seatoskyimprovements.ca

How can I get added onto the Weekly Schedule distribution list?

To receive weekly emails outlining the upcoming week's delay and closure schedule, please forward your name and email address to roadclosuresanddelays@seatoskyimprovements.ca.

Why am I not able to view the updates to the Weekly Schedule on the website?

This can be due to one of two things:

1. Your internet explorer is reading from a file that is saved on its hard drive (cached file). This is often done to improve browsing speed by running off information that is stored offline wherever possible.
2. Your firewall settings are set up so that files are run from a cached server. This set-up will be common for government agencies and larger companies that have firewalls that run external to an individual user's computer. You will have to talk to your local IT support to address this issue.

The first case can be resolved by doing the following:

• Login in the Internet
• Hit the Refresh icon (this may solve the problem- if not continue with the steps below)
• Select Tools - Internet Options
• Under Temporary Internet files, click Delete Cookies, select OK
• Then click on Delete Files, click OK
• Click on Settings
• Under the "Check for Newer Version of Stored Pages", select the box labelled Every time you start Internet Explorer
• Select Ok then Apply then Ok
• Hit the Refresh icon

Why are there partial lane closures after a section of the highway has been improved?

In an improved highway section, new lanes are opened for travellers as soon as possible. Section openings can be followed by up to six months of follow-up work, which often require partial lane closures.

Depending on the section of highway, a number of elements might need to be installed or fine-tuned to reach the road's final configuration: painted lines, reflectors and rumble strips; median or roadside barrier; road/bridge/wall drainage systems, highway signs or even traffic lights. When the roadside construction areas are cleaned up and the last audits and inspections are done, the section is complete.

Why must drivers keep at 50 km/h even without workers on the road, or when it appears to be complete?

In some cases there are workers you can't see just below the road. In most cases, there are unseen hazards. The road alignment might have been altered, the surface can be rough, or there are obstructions right next to the traffic, without the clear zone a shoulder normally provides.

In the sections that appear to be complete, lanes may be closed for finishing work such as line painting, landscape planting, ditching or other works. Once these finishing touches have been com¬pleted, independent road safety experts conduct inspections to verify elements like signage are installed correctly, that construction work meets safety standards. Engineers measure and check painted lines, reflective markers and median bar¬riers, and they must look for pavement defects or drainage issues. Final touch-ups to construction may be required such as final ditching completed before it is ready for highway traffic.

Do people get impatient because the work zones are so long?

There are now only a few construction speed zones. What people should know is, keeping to 50 km/h through every construction zone only adds about 5 minutes on a trip between West Vancouver and Function Junction, compared to having no construction at all.