Thursday, July 31, 2008
Rock Slide
Wednesday, July 30, 2008 4 p.m.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION – Sea to Sky Highway Closure on July 30
OVERVIEW
On July 29 at approximately 11:30 p.m., a rockslide closed the Sea-to-Sky Highway between Porteau Cove and the Furry Creek Bridge. The slide debris covered both lanes of the highway and damaged the CN rail tracks beside the highway.
The slide was outside of any current highway construction areas.
The highway will be closed until further notice. B.C. Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon stated (mid afternoon July 30) that it could take up to five days.
We have been informed (2:30 p.m. July 30) by the Ministry of Transportation that their geotechnical engineers are onsite assessing the stability of the slope above the slide and that clean-up will begin once the engineers determine that the site is safe. Once clean-up begins, workers will do everything they can to reopen the highway as soon as possible. Due to the size of the boulders, the clean-up will involve blasting.
NOTE: Up-to-date information about the details of the slide and time that the area will re-open should be obtained from the Ministry of Transportation or the RCMP as this information is changing regularly.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
How does this type of incident affect Whistler?
Any incident that impacts access to Whistler for our community and visitors can have an impact on the routines and plans of our residents, as well as the plans of our valued visitors.
The closure is an inconvenience, but the most important thing to us is that the required time is taken to ensure that the area is safe.
There has been no impact to municipal operations in Whistler.
Supplies will be brought in to Whistler through Highway 99 from the north.
How can people get up-to-date information?
We would encourage residents and visitors to “know before you go”—monitor the status of the situation closely and plan travel accordingly. The duration of the closure could change at any point.
RESORT MUNICIPALITY OF WHISTLER 4325 BLACKCOMB WAY, WHISTLER, B.C. V0N 1B4
WHISTLER TEL:604-932-5535 FAX: 604-935-8109 TOLL FREE: 1-866-932-5535
EMAIL: i n f o@whistl e r .ca WEBSITE: www.whist ler.ca
Page 2
The Ministry of Transportation www.DriveBC.ca website contains the official up-to-date information about the highway.
Mountain FM radio is the primary source of information by radio.
Whistler – 102.1 FM Squamish – 107.1 FM Pemberton – 104.5
What is being done to get the road back to normal?
We are confident that the Ministry of Transportation is doing everything possible to clear the area and that they will reopen the highway to residents and visitors as soon as the area is safe. The amount of debris is significant and Transportation Minister Falcon indicated today (July 30) that it may take up to five days.
The Ministry of Transportation advised the afternoon of July 30 that their geotechnical engineers are onsite assessing the stability of the slope above the slide and that clean-up will begin once the engineers determine that the site is safe. Once clean-up begins, workers will do everything they can to reopen the highway as soon as possible. Due to the size of the boulders, the clean-up will involve blasting.
How will people and goods travel to and from Whistler?
Driving
There is an alternate route from Whistler to the Lower Mainland north on Highway 99 through Pemberton to Lillooet and back through the Fraser Canyon. This scenic drive takes approximately seven hours. This route will be used to bring supplies in to Whistler from the Lower Mainland.
The Highway 99 route north can also be used to access communities in the B.C. Interior. This, in fact, is a common route for many summer visitors touring beyond Whistler to other areas of B.C.
Couriers
Couriers are operating with revised schedules and routes.
Alternative Transportation Options
A wide variety of alternative transportation options are available for people travelling to and from Whistler: float plane, helicopter, busses (using the northern route), tug boat and air transfers from Squamish, and more.
Note that 1-800-WHISTLER (1-800-944-7853) is available as a resource to any travellers whose plans are disrupted by the rockslide.
How common is an incident like this?
This type of incident is unusual; however, living in a mountain/ coastal environment, there is some risk of environmental incidents like this one.
Page 3
The Sea to Sky Highway Improvement Project will help to reduce this type of risk in many areas on the highway.
The Ministry of Transportation has indicated that this incident occurred outside of any current highway construction areas.
What would happen if an incident like this occurred during the 2010 Winter Games?
The Ministry of Transportation and the RCMP are integrally involved Games planning, including planning for the Sea to Sky corridor, and would manage any highway incident with safety being the main priority.
Athletes, officials and the majority of personnel required to stage an Olympic or Paralympic event in Whistler will be housed in the Whistler area so events would proceed on schedule in the event of a highway closure. A highway closure could; however, impact the ability for spectators to access Whistler, and for residents to travel between Whistler and the Lower Mainland.
This is the busy summer season. How will this impact business in Whistler?
This weekend is the B.C. Day/ August long weekend, which is typically a very busy weekend for visitors coming to Whistler. We won’t know the full impact to business until this incident has been fully dealt with, but we would anticipate trip cancellations, as using alternative transportation won’t be an option for all travellers.
Media contacts:
Kim Thompson, RMOW – tel: 604-935-8104
Michele Comeau Thompson, RMOW – tel: 604-935-8152, cell: 604-932-0833
Dave Crebo, Ministry of Transportation – tel: 604-812-5747
Media spokesperson:
Mayor Ken Melamed, RMOW
BACKGROUND INFORMATION – Sea to Sky Highway Closure on July 30
OVERVIEW
On July 29 at approximately 11:30 p.m., a rockslide closed the Sea-to-Sky Highway between Porteau Cove and the Furry Creek Bridge. The slide debris covered both lanes of the highway and damaged the CN rail tracks beside the highway.
The slide was outside of any current highway construction areas.
The highway will be closed until further notice. B.C. Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon stated (mid afternoon July 30) that it could take up to five days.
We have been informed (2:30 p.m. July 30) by the Ministry of Transportation that their geotechnical engineers are onsite assessing the stability of the slope above the slide and that clean-up will begin once the engineers determine that the site is safe. Once clean-up begins, workers will do everything they can to reopen the highway as soon as possible. Due to the size of the boulders, the clean-up will involve blasting.
NOTE: Up-to-date information about the details of the slide and time that the area will re-open should be obtained from the Ministry of Transportation or the RCMP as this information is changing regularly.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
How does this type of incident affect Whistler?
Any incident that impacts access to Whistler for our community and visitors can have an impact on the routines and plans of our residents, as well as the plans of our valued visitors.
The closure is an inconvenience, but the most important thing to us is that the required time is taken to ensure that the area is safe.
There has been no impact to municipal operations in Whistler.
Supplies will be brought in to Whistler through Highway 99 from the north.
How can people get up-to-date information?
We would encourage residents and visitors to “know before you go”—monitor the status of the situation closely and plan travel accordingly. The duration of the closure could change at any point.
RESORT MUNICIPALITY OF WHISTLER 4325 BLACKCOMB WAY, WHISTLER, B.C. V0N 1B4
WHISTLER TEL:604-932-5535 FAX: 604-935-8109 TOLL FREE: 1-866-932-5535
EMAIL: i n f o@whistl e r .ca WEBSITE: www.whist ler.ca
Page 2
The Ministry of Transportation www.DriveBC.ca website contains the official up-to-date information about the highway.
Mountain FM radio is the primary source of information by radio.
Whistler – 102.1 FM Squamish – 107.1 FM Pemberton – 104.5
What is being done to get the road back to normal?
We are confident that the Ministry of Transportation is doing everything possible to clear the area and that they will reopen the highway to residents and visitors as soon as the area is safe. The amount of debris is significant and Transportation Minister Falcon indicated today (July 30) that it may take up to five days.
The Ministry of Transportation advised the afternoon of July 30 that their geotechnical engineers are onsite assessing the stability of the slope above the slide and that clean-up will begin once the engineers determine that the site is safe. Once clean-up begins, workers will do everything they can to reopen the highway as soon as possible. Due to the size of the boulders, the clean-up will involve blasting.
How will people and goods travel to and from Whistler?
Driving
There is an alternate route from Whistler to the Lower Mainland north on Highway 99 through Pemberton to Lillooet and back through the Fraser Canyon. This scenic drive takes approximately seven hours. This route will be used to bring supplies in to Whistler from the Lower Mainland.
The Highway 99 route north can also be used to access communities in the B.C. Interior. This, in fact, is a common route for many summer visitors touring beyond Whistler to other areas of B.C.
Couriers
Couriers are operating with revised schedules and routes.
Alternative Transportation Options
A wide variety of alternative transportation options are available for people travelling to and from Whistler: float plane, helicopter, busses (using the northern route), tug boat and air transfers from Squamish, and more.
Note that 1-800-WHISTLER (1-800-944-7853) is available as a resource to any travellers whose plans are disrupted by the rockslide.
How common is an incident like this?
This type of incident is unusual; however, living in a mountain/ coastal environment, there is some risk of environmental incidents like this one.
Page 3
The Sea to Sky Highway Improvement Project will help to reduce this type of risk in many areas on the highway.
The Ministry of Transportation has indicated that this incident occurred outside of any current highway construction areas.
What would happen if an incident like this occurred during the 2010 Winter Games?
The Ministry of Transportation and the RCMP are integrally involved Games planning, including planning for the Sea to Sky corridor, and would manage any highway incident with safety being the main priority.
Athletes, officials and the majority of personnel required to stage an Olympic or Paralympic event in Whistler will be housed in the Whistler area so events would proceed on schedule in the event of a highway closure. A highway closure could; however, impact the ability for spectators to access Whistler, and for residents to travel between Whistler and the Lower Mainland.
This is the busy summer season. How will this impact business in Whistler?
This weekend is the B.C. Day/ August long weekend, which is typically a very busy weekend for visitors coming to Whistler. We won’t know the full impact to business until this incident has been fully dealt with, but we would anticipate trip cancellations, as using alternative transportation won’t be an option for all travellers.
Media contacts:
Kim Thompson, RMOW – tel: 604-935-8104
Michele Comeau Thompson, RMOW – tel: 604-935-8152, cell: 604-932-0833
Dave Crebo, Ministry of Transportation – tel: 604-812-5747
Media spokesperson:
Mayor Ken Melamed, RMOW
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Just a test
at the Southside talkin about web sites