Despite last year's Eagleridge Bluffs protests, and recent headlines about landslides and major accidents along the Sea-to-Sky Highway, construction work continues to move ahead on the $600 million project.
Completion is still scheduled for Autumn 2009.
A perusal of the Capital Project Plan from 2004 (link to pdf) reveals that the drive to Whistler will be reduced by 15 minutes, while safety improvements are expected to reduce accidents by 30%.
As for the Olympics, according to this article from the Vancouver Sun, 'during the Games, the highway will be closed to most public traffic in favour of special transit programs.' Who knew?
It's also interesting to note that improvements to the highway would have been necessary by 2012 anyway, due to projected increases in Whistler-Vancouver traffic.
Besides the ongoing roadwork, several tourist stops along the way will also see improvements. Construction work has recently begun on the Stawamus Chief Park for example (link to pdf), while many pullouts will be upgraded as well.
For a further look at the work that's been going on, check out the monthly series of 'electronic postcards' from the project, which provide brief commentary about what's happening along different sections of the highway.
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