By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: Aug. 17, 2013
Be extra cautious next time you approach the intersection of Cleveland Ave and Highway 99: It’s been the most dangerous collision spot in the last five years.
There were 162 accidents at the intersection of Cleveland and Highway 99 in the last five years, information gleaned from ICBC documents reveal.
Of these, 62 were reported as causalities, either injury or fatality.
Interesting enough, the completion of a brand new highway seems to have made little impact on accidents.
In 2008, for example, there were 152 crashes reported on Highway 99 for Squamish; in 2012, the number stands at 157.
Kate Trotter, media relations person for the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI), said safety is the ministry’s top priority, adding that highways in the province are monitored continuously.
“This work can include adding or reconfiguring signs, adding to the traffic webcam network or installing barriers to deter unsafe pedestrian crossings,” she said.
Routine maintenance such as maintaining smooth pavement, clearing debris troughs and line-painting also contributes to the safety of the travelling public, she added.
Trotter noted some of the recent safety improvement projects on Highway 99.
• Catch basin painting on Highway 99
• Enhanced signage for cycling and animals on highway
• Area-specific shoulder widening (i.e Murrin Park)
• Pedestrian island improvements in Squamish
• New rock fall and ice fencings at specific locations
• Rock bolting/ rock scaling
• Horizontal delineators at Porteau Cove
• Enhanced toxic invasive species control
For all the safety measures, Nathalie Boisvert doesn’t feel safe while crossing the intersection of Cleveland and Highway.99.
“I don’t feel particularly safe, especially when crossing on the north-west side (McDonalds),” Boisvert said.
“Cars come off the highway too quickly. I am especially concerned for the little ones crossing there,” she added.
In September, she will be walking or cycling with her son for work, and crossing the Highway into town from Valleycliffe will make her anxious.
She has another option, but it isn’t that safe either.
The other option is to go under the bridge and through one of the private lots to get in behind Nesters to reach Cleveland and Buckley.
“That is just as dangerous as cars driving southbound on Buckley trying to turn left onto Cleveland have to watch out for oncoming cars, and often don’t see pedestrians until they are in the middle of the intersection,” she said.
She said an overpass would be the safest route for all pedestrians, especially school aged children.
Other unsafe spots in the district: Highway 99 and Mamquam Road (64), Depot Road and Highway 99 (56), Garibaldi Way and Highway 99 (56 incidents) Buckley Avenue and Cleveland Avenue (35) are some other hot spots.
The average collision costs are $4.17 million per fatality, $97,000 per injury and $6,000 per property damage incident, according to ICBC.
Carol says
The on-ramp from Cleveland to Hwy. 99, heading south, is very dangerous. Usually there are longer ramps, so people don’t expect such a short one, and often must STOP before entering the highway. I wonder if that could be improved.
Hugh Kerr says
The time allowed for cars to go left from Cleveland Ave to Highway 99 (north) is ridiculously short- much shorter than from Mamquam going left (south) on to 99. At Cleveland It’s only about 10 seconds, which typically allows only about 4 cars per lane. Yet the lineup at certain times can be over 10 cars, in each lane. Hence people go through yellow and even red lights in making their left turns. Who controls this timing ?
Dave says
Cleveland/Hwy.99….Entrance to Squamish Downtown……Roundabout? (Jan 2013)
Recently, I sent this to the District of Squamish:
“This is an unusual enquiry regarding your possible input to the Dept. of Highways about the future design of this intersection. Traffic flow is always an issue with regard to Highway design. Here we have an intersection which is potentially very dangerous and which deals with a lot of traffic most of the time. There, recently, has been much discussion about the ease of access to Downtown.
In Europe and other parts of the world Roundabouts have been employed to solve many of these traffic flow problems albeit not so much here. I believe that this concept should be explored more.
We now have three roundabouts in our District which, I realise, are not under the control of the Highways Dept. These, I think, are successful (even though the GH ones are a bit too tight). A roundabout at the entrance to town would facilitate both general traffic flow and make an easier 1st exit priority entrance to toward Downtown.
In short, I believe that Council should discuss the possibility of contacting the Dept. of Highways regarding this after some discussion of the feasibility of this concept. And don’t be squeamish Guys…They really do work!!…I am really tired of waiting and waiting to make a turn. Such can lead to impatience and dangerous subsequent erratic response. This same thing applies at the Park Royal intersection…Really bad. Eccentric?…Well we have to start somewhere.”
Don Patrick says
The on-ramp south onto 99 really does make you wonder… it is a death trap and most drivers have the wrong idea in the merge, one should speed up to the 99 speed limit and then check for a merge possibility… that takes a few hundred feet, so lets get that few feet. The timing issue is also right on… guess years in University for traffic control is just a waste… the Professor is probably 80 waiting for his pension and has little high speed experience. The traffic circle idea works but only for those folks that have a racing degree…. my wife would be going around that circle until rescue. Cheers
Dave says
Don (re roundabouts , traffic circles and “racing degrees”).
I didn’t realise that all those people in Europe were so educated in that field, yet they seem to survive quite well:-) Have your wife and yourself been so stuck on our three roundabouts or do you simply avoid them?
Anonymous says
I pass through this intersection twice a day and often wonder, when approaching, why the speed limit is set at 70 when other intersections are set at 60. Turning into Valleycliff off 99 it is set at 60. Not that it matters I guess. Many going to, and coming from, Whistler fly through at 100… In Vancouver, flying through intersections at high speeds gets you a ‘flash’ and then a ticket in the mail. As well, the left turn signal at the intersection heading downtown is set to allow maybe 3 cars through, if they hurry, then it’s red. I witness many speeding to make it through.
Don Patrick says
You are right Dave.. lived in Europe working in the aircraft industry… but I did say my wife and to my knowledge there were a few traffic circles in Europe and they did do the job… so shut up. Cheers DP