Landslide blocks Sea to Sky Highway, cutting off Squamish and Whistler
Update at 8 am on Sunday: The Sea to Sky Highway has reopened in both directions as of 5 am Sunday, earlier than anticipated. This follows an overnight cleanup by crews.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE on Saturday:
The Sea to Sky Highway has been completely inaccessible in the Lions Bay area — just north of Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver — since mid-morning Saturday.
This is due to a landslide that brought down soil, rocks, and tree debris onto both directions of the highway, near the Brunswick Road exit ramp.
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According to Squamish RCMP, there are no detours available, temporarily cutting off the highway’s connection between Metro Vancouver and the communities of Squamish and Whistler for the day.
Geotechnical assessments are underway. Initially, as of early Saturday afternoon, RCMP stated the highway would reopen by midnight. However, in an update at 8 pm, they said the highway is not expected to reopen for at least 24 hours, which pegs a potential reopening for late Sunday at the very ealiest based on this revised possible timeline.
The only alternative route to reach Metro Vancouver from Squamish and Whistler is a long circuitous detour north on Highway 99 via Pemberton to reach Highway 12 and Highway 1, reaching the Fraser Valley.
Heads Up: Landslide at Lions Bay #seatosky pic.twitter.com/X3UuvUdRRC
— Rob MacKay-Dunn 🇨🇦 (@robmackaydunn) December 14, 2024
I hope you weren’t planning to go to/from Whistler today 😳
(not my photo, but from a friend) #BCStorm Sea to Sky, Hwy 99 pic.twitter.com/MvNwcV7xTW— Brett Landry ✝︎ (@BrettLandry) December 14, 2024
Massive landslide on Sea to Sky, hope everyone is ok. But if you had Whistler plans, you don’t anymore pic.twitter.com/LoeEzyETgA
— Blake Price (@justBlakePrice) December 14, 2024
Crews on-scene at landslide at Brunswick Beach in #LionsBay.
Highway Closed. Please avoid area as emergency services & mtce crews assess the area for damage.
Geotech assessment via helicopter.
Check @DriveBC for updates. #Squamish #WestVan #Whistler pic.twitter.com/sIcZ7DBgB3
— Lower Mainland Dist. (@TranBC_LMD) December 14, 2024
#BCHwy99 is CLOSED in both directions at Brunswick Beach in #LionsBay due to a landslide. Crews are on site and assessment in progress.
Please avoid the area @DriveBC @TranBC @NewsRadioVAN pic.twitter.com/UDer2hEbk9
— Miller Capilano Highway Services (@MillerCapilano4) December 14, 2024
Emergency crews are working to confirm property damage and determine if anyone was injured. At this time, no injuries have been reported.
This incident occurred during a day of heavy rainfall and high winds, which also led to localized flooding, fallen trees, BC Ferries cancellations, and widespread power outages across the South Coast.