Depot Road Active Transportation

Project Status: Current

A new protected multi-use pathway on the north side of Highway 99 to Government Road.

Work is scheduled to continue until August 28, 2026.

Budget:
$1.525 million
Description:

Last updated: August 11, 2026

The District will install a new protected multi-use pathway on the north side of Highway 99 to Government Road. The new pathway will connect to bike lanes on Government Road to provide a safe, comfortable and accessible pedestrian and cyclist connection.

This project will increase safety for all users at intersections by improving lighting, installing rectangular rapid flashing beacons and enhancing accessibility.

(Click diagram to open a larger view in a new tab.)

Design concept drawing.

Background

The District’s Active Transportation Plan identified Depot Road as a high priority for improved infrastructure to provide a safe east-west connection for active transportation users.

Multi-use pathways provide shared space for people walking and biking away from motor vehicle lanes. Squamish All Ages and Abilities Cycling Route survey participants identified off-street multi-use pathways as their top choice of active transportation infrastructure.

Why we are doing this work

The community has expressed a significant desire to have safer options to get around on foot, by bicycle, and other modes of transportation (i.e., scooters). A petition was received by Council in 2022 signed by 97 community members who live on Depot Road and surrounding streets requesting improved active transportation infrastructure along Depot Road. 

The project has been identified as a priority in the District’s Active Transportation Plan, Transportation Plan, and the Brackendale Elementary Safe and Active Routes to School Plan.

This project will create a protected multi-use pathway on the north side of Depot Road by widening the paved surface and installing concrete barriers between the pathway and motor vehicle travel lanes. In order to construct this project, the parking on the shoulder of the north side of the street will be converted into a pathway. Off-street parking on the south side of the street will be retained on the south side of Depot Road, as well as on the shoulder of roads that intersect with Depot Road along the project corridor (Peterson Road, Dogwood Place, Reid Road).

Why This Design Was Selected

Several design options were evaluated to improve active transportation connections along the corridor, including new sidewalks, bike lanes, and a multi-use pathway. After considering existing site constraints and project budget requirements, the cross section shown above was selected as the preferred design.

The selected design retains informal shoulder parking on the south side of the corridor while providing a multi-use pathway. 

Additional improvements include:

  • New and enhanced crosswalks with flashing beacons at intersections between Government Road and Highway 99.
  • Improved crossing opportunities to access the multi-use pathway on the north side of the road.
  • Modifications to existing street lighting to improve visibility along the corridor.

Parking Changes and Considerations

To deliver the project in a cost-effective manner, some existing parking areas will be repurposed to accommodate the multi-use pathway. This includes informal shoulder parking east of the railway and curbside parking west of the railway.

The following considerations informed this decision:

  • Parking counts were conducted to understand current demand. Based on observed usage, parking demand can be accommodated on the south side of Depot Road and on nearby streets, including Peterson Road, Dogwood Place, and Reid Road.
  • Some informal diagonal parking spaces near the southern entrance to the Dump Trails will be removed. Extending the multi-use pathway to the intersection will provide a safer and more comfortable connection to the trail network for people walking and cycling.
  • During the planning and design process, reallocating these parking spaces was identified as an appropriate trade-off to allow the pathway to extend to the intersection and connect directly to the trail network.
  • Safety will be improved by removing diagonal parking near the southbound channelized right-turn lane from Highway 99 to Depot Road, where vehicle entering vehicles had higher speed.

Alternative Parking Options

Alternative parking locations that provide access to the trail network include:

North end of the Dump Trails

  • Parking lot on Squamish Valley Road.
  • Additional off-street parking on Squamish Valley Road.
  • Off-street parking on Alice Lake Road.
  • Parking area at the end of Black Bear Road.

Other nearby parking options

  • On-street parking on Ross Road following project completion.
  • Adventure Hub parking at Don Ross Middle School.
  • On-street parking on the south side of Depot Road.
  • Off-street parking on Reid Road, Dogwood Place, Peterson Road, and Edwards Road.


Additional Safety Improvements

  • New crosswalks with flashing beacons will provide safe and comfortable crossings between parking areas on the south side of Depot Road and properties on the north side.
  • Low concrete barriers will be installed between the multi-use pathway and travel lanes to provide physical separation. Openings will be maintained at driveways to allow property access and space for waste collection.

 

Funding

The Province of British Columbia contributed up to $500,000 for this project.

Supported by the Province of BC.

Impacts:

Construction details

  • Hours: Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Duration: Approximately five weeks. Construction is scheduled during the summer when school is not session to reduce traffic impacts

What to expect

  • Increased noise and short-term traffic disruptions while work is underway
  • Traffic control measures will be managed by the contractor to ensure safety

Garbage collection

  • Please place bins as usual
  • If access is blocked, the contractor will move bins to a suitable collection location

Nearby construction

  • The District acknowledges ongoing construction on Ross Road related to the Cheekeye Development Project
    The contractors for both projects are coordinating their work to minimize impacts on residents.

Phasing

  • Phase 1: Stormwater work near Highway 99
  • Phase 2: Highway 99 to Ross Road
  • Phase 3: Ross Road to Government Road
Contact:

Cedric David, Project Manager
[email protected]

Neighbourhood:
Brackendale
Categories:
Active Transportation