Anyone who walks or cycles along the stretch of Highway 20 inside city limits of Williams Lake knows it needs safety improvements.
There is no shoulder on the north side of the highway and the south side has some barricades and a narrow shoulder.
Last November Coun. Joan Flaspohler raised the issue, and council endorsed her request for a letter be written to the ministers of environment and transportation urging them to work together to make improvements.
“Active transportation in this area is extremely difficult; the public feels unsafe once they reach Highway 20. It is a complete bottleneck and challenging for any means of active transportation,” Flaspohler reported in a letter to council for the November meeting.
“The city of Williams Lake has already established active transportation trails on the neighbouring municipal roads. Both Mackenzie Avenue and South Lakeside Drive have trails, but the provincial infrastructure does not even have proper development for pedestrians let alone a safe area for travel with bicycles. There are sidewalks on the bridges, but few areas to travel safely in between.”
Streets for All Williams Lake, a cycling and pedestrian advocacy organization, and the Williams Lake Cycling Club have both add their voices to calls for improvements with a joint letter to provincial ministers calling for action.
City council received the letter dated Jan. 6, 2024, during the regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 13.
In the letter, the groups noted they have spoken extensively with local residents about barriers they encounter when using active transportation or accessing the local mountain bike trail network without the use of a vehicle.
“This section of highway comes up repeatedly and most feel that it is not navigable due to concerns for their personal safety. The few who do cycle between South Lakeside Drive and Mackenzie Avenue will only do so at specific times of the day when traffic is moderate.”
The letter goes on to talk about the road’s heavy debris-laden shoulders needing clearing for air quality and safety as well as the poorly placed barricades along the route that also pose hazards.
Previously the city also received a letter from Cariboo Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson dated Jan. 8, 2024.
In his letter Doerkson said he has also been contacted by seniors trying to navigate the area via scooter.
“I have travelled this area a few times by bicycle as well as on foot and would note that it is consistently a challenge to traverse this stretch of highway,” his letter noted.
He also said several residents have reached out to his office in the past advocating for improvements to connect the west side of our community to the downtown core.
Bryan Withage of Williams Lake also sent an email dated Jan. 15, calling for improvements.
“This section divides our community, limits the options of those who would like to be able to move safely between these sides of our city and endangers those who have no option but to walk, ride or roll,” he noted.
Withage noted he supports all levels of government working together, with the province enabling the community to build a healthier, more sustainable, inclusive and accessible community by improving that section of the highway for those outside of vehicles.
Flaspohler thanked everyone who has sent letters and asked if anyone else is willing to please add their voice.
“We want to let them know we are serious about this,” she said.
Mayor Surinderpal Rathor said he has reached out to the local manager of the ministry of transportation about the issue.
With a file from Angie Mindus
READ MORE: Streets for All advocates press Williams Lake city council on active transportation
READ MORE: Williams Lake city councillor pushing for safety improvements along Highway 20
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