The District of Squamish is continuing work on a long-planned project to improve the intersection of Garibaldi Way and Tantalus Road. The improvements will help to address safety and traffic flow for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles in this high-traffic area. Construction is expected to take place in phases with the detailed design work taking place this spring and initial work beginning between summer and fall 2022. The intersection work is independent of the Garibaldi Estates Neighbourhood planning process, currently underway.
The list of safety and traffic flow upgrades may be viewed within a detailed map here and include:
“Residents and business owners provided us with extensive input about their concerns and suggestions for this intersection, and so I anticipate it will be welcome news to hear that improvements are close at hand,” says District of Squamish Mayor Karen Elliott. “These improvements will address important safety and traffic flow concerns in a way that considers the existing built infrastructure in this zone to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists. The plan also creates an important multi-use path connection from the Corridor Trail to expand active transportation opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists.”
Background
In fall 2020, the District conducted a survey to learn more about how people use the area and what concerns they have with the current intersection of Garibaldi Way and Tantalus Road. The survey also collected details of near misses and collisions people have witnessed or been involved in at the intersection.
The survey received nearly 800 responses from community members. This feedback, combined with collision data from ICBC, helped to inform a detailed traffic study about how to improve the area. District of Squamish Engineering staff worked in collaboration with a traffic engineering consultant to develop this traffic study.
Key active transportation and pedestrian safety concerns identified in the survey include:
With the addition of a second crosswalk with flashing beacons across Garibaldi Way and a multi-use pathway from Highway 99 to Diamond Head Road, the area will be easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists to access.
During the intersection design process, various options were considered within the project zone. The above-listed upgrades were determined by the traffic engineering team to be the most effective way to address the safety and traffic flow concerns in the area.
The total cost of the project is $750,000 and is funded by the Capital Projects budget.
The reconfiguration of Tantalus Road South to one way southbound will reduce the collision risk between left-turn and through traffic, improve crosswalk safety, and minimize the vehicle delay and queue length coming southbound from Tantalus Road North. By removing one lane of traffic, it will also create extra space on Tantalus Road South. This space could be used to create gatherings spaces, outdoor seating, widened sidewalks, and/or bike lanes.
Traffic modelling estimates that these safety and traffic flow improvements will result in approximately one additional car per minute travelling on Diamond Head Road between Garibaldi Way and Diamond Road during peak hours on Friday and Sunday between 3 and 7 p.m.
The District will be widening the shoulder along Diamond Head Road, between Garibaldi Way and Diamond Road, to create more space for pedestrians in this area. This is an interim safety improvement prior to future planned sidewalk upgrades for the area which have been identified in the Active Transportation Master Plan.
The District has provided detailed information to businesses and residents in the area with an invitation to submit feedback.
For more information about these safety and traffic flow improvements, please visit: squamish.ca/garibaldi-way-tantalus-road.
April 19, 2022
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