Many Squamish families spend a good part of the week on Highway 99—heading to work, school, sports and appointments up and down the corridor. That shared routine is why any report of a wrong-way driver lands with such concern here. Even when no one is hurt, it’s a reminder that small errors on a fast-moving highway can carry big risks, and that clear signs, attentive driving and quick reporting all matter.
A local resident recently experienced a wrong-way driving incident on Highway 99. While details are limited, the account has prompted fresh questions from neighbours about visibility at access points, how quickly drivers and police are alerted, and whether additional reminders could help visitors unfamiliar with the corridor. Those are fair questions. Highway 99 through Squamish is busy year-round and even busier on weekends and holidays. Weather, darkness and congestion can make decision-making more difficult, particularly for drivers new to the area.
The Sea to Sky Highway is under provincial jurisdiction. The B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure oversees design standards, signage, pavement markings and lighting on the highway, and a provincial maintenance contractor is responsible for upkeep and repairs. Municipal roads and intersections that lead to the highway fall under the District of Squamish. The Squamish RCMP responds to dangerous driving calls locally, while Sea to Sky Traffic Services conducts corridor-wide enforcement and supports major incidents. We have requested comment from MOTI and the Squamish RCMP on recent wrong-way reports and any planned safety reviews at local access points; we will share updates once confirmed.
Wrong-way events on divided highways are uncommon, but they are treated as high risk by police and road-safety professionals because they can lead to head-on collisions at speed. In B.C., the standard tools to reduce that risk are well established: bold “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs where drivers might mistakenly enter opposing lanes, directional arrows painted on the pavement, reflective delineators, rumble strips, and centre-line or median treatments to keep opposing traffic separated. The Sea to Sky corridor also benefitted from major investment ahead of the 2010 Winter Games, including wider shoulders, improved sightlines, and safety-focused signage. Even so, conditions change with growth, and periodic reviews can help keep signs and markings in step with how the highway is used today.
Local residents often highlight the realities of driving here after dark and in rain: glare from oncoming headlights, faded paint in high-wear zones, and the challenge of processing multiple cues at once—speed limits, lane drops, turn pockets, and access roads. Those observations point to practical next steps. A targeted signage and markings review at highway access points within District boundaries would be a useful starting point, done jointly by MOTI, the maintenance contractor and local staff who know where near-misses tend to occur. A night-time “drive-through” audit can verify whether the current layout, reflectivity and placement of signs are clear in low light and wet weather, and whether vegetation trimming or repositioning is needed.
There are several low-impact improvements commonly used across B.C. that may be worth considering where warranted by field review. These include additional “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” panels closer to decision points, high-contrast pavement arrows on exit ramps, extra reflectors on the back of guide signs so the wrong side of a sign is obvious, and refreshed paint in areas that wear quickly under turning traffic. In locations with a documented pattern of confusion, some jurisdictions have tested LED-enhanced warning signs that flash when a vehicle approaches the wrong way. Any of these measures would depend on site conditions and provincial standards, but they demonstrate the range of tools available.
Education and quick reporting are just as important. RCMP asks that 911 be used to report a vehicle travelling the wrong way or posing an immediate risk to others; timely caller information—location, direction of travel, vehicle description—helps dispatch warn other agencies and get officers into position. Non-emergency lines can be used later to add details if needed. The province’s “Shift Into Winter” campaign, while focused on seasonal hazards, is a good example of reminders that make a difference: slow down to match conditions, scan well ahead for signage, and plan extra time on high-traffic days. Those same habits help prevent the kind of late, rushed decisions that can put a driver into the wrong lane at a fork or exit.
Enforcement also plays a role. Sea to Sky RCMP and Traffic Services routinely conduct impaired driving enforcement under the CounterAttack program, along with speed and distracted driving checks throughout the year. Impairment, distraction and fatigue are known contributors to serious crashes. Maintaining a visible presence at higher-risk times—late evenings, early mornings and peak travel weekends—reinforces the basics and may deter the small number of drivers whose behaviour creates the greatest risk for everyone else.
Community input helps identify locations where confusion or near-misses occur. The District’s public engagement tools allow residents to flag specific spots on local roads, and staff can pass highway-related concerns to MOTI for follow-up. Sharing precise details matters: the direction you were travelling, the nearest cross-street or landmark, time of day, and any weather or visibility issues. If paint is worn, a sign is obscured, or lighting has failed, those are maintenance items the Province can address promptly. Many residents may not realize that highway maintenance operates around the clock; issues reported with clear locations are far easier to resolve.
It’s also worth acknowledging the unique character of driving the Sea to Sky. The landscape is beautiful and distracting, curves tighten and open, and traffic composition shifts by the hour—from commuter traffic on weekday mornings to visitor traffic towing trailers by Friday afternoon. Successive intersections and access points through Squamish demand a bit more attention than a straight freeway might. That is not a cause for alarm; it’s a call for routine, practical vigilance and for infrastructure that supports it.
Looking ahead, a constructive path forward could include three parallel efforts. First, a focused MOTI review of wrong-way prevention measures at local access points, with night and wet-weather checks to validate visibility. Second, a coordinated communications push before peak travel periods, reminding corridor users—residents and visitors alike—how to navigate common decision points, what to do if they see a wrong-way driver, and where to report concerns. Third, a simple feedback channel that captures near-miss information in a way that helps engineers spot patterns. None of these require major construction, and together they support the goal we all share: every trip beginning and ending safely.
We have asked the Squamish RCMP and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure whether any wrong-way reports have been logged recently within the District and whether signage or pavement-marking changes are under consideration. If additional information is confirmed, we will update readers. In the meantime, immediate hazards on the highway should be reported to 911. General highway maintenance concerns can be reported to the provincial highway maintenance contractor through the 24/7 service line listed on the MOTI website. District of Squamish transportation updates are posted on the District’s website and engagement portal, and provincial corridor advisories are available through DriveBC.
Keeping Highway 99 safe is a shared effort. Small steps—refreshed paint where it wears, a clearer sign at a tricky junction, a call to report a hazard—add up. Squamish residents know this corridor better than anyone. With continued attention from the Province and timely, practical input from the community, we can reduce confusion points and keep daily travel predictable for families, workers and visitors alike. We will share further updates as official information becomes available.
