Highway 99 is our community’s main artery. When it’s safe, everything from school drop-offs to weekend plans and supply deliveries runs smoothly. When it isn’t, the effects ripple quickly through Squamish. A recent full closure of the Sea to Sky north of town, combined with reports of a local resident encountering a wrong-way driver, has many people asking the same question: what more can we do, together, to prevent serious incidents on this corridor and keep our neighbours safe?
Sea to Sky RCMP responded to a collision involving a bus and a passenger vehicle on the afternoon of January 7 between Alice Lake Road and Daisy Lake Road. Police say officers arrived at about 3:30 p.m., and the highway was closed in both directions for several hours while investigators worked at the scene. The Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service was called in, which is standard for complex or serious crashes. As of publication, police have not confirmed whether anyone was injured, and the cause of the collision has not been released. We will share any verified updates as they are made available.
For many residents, the closure underscores a broader concern: how quickly conditions and circumstances can change on the Sea to Sky, and how little margin for error there is when they do. Wrong-way driving is rare but high-risk, and even a single near-miss can shake community confidence. While details about the January 7 collision remain under investigation, the events of the week have sharpened the conversation locally about road design, signage, driver awareness, and enforcement along Highway 99.
The Sea to Sky Highway’s geography and weather can be unforgiving. Curves, elevation changes, limited sightlines in places, and fast-moving traffic—especially on weekends and holidays—create a demanding environment for drivers. The corridor has seen significant upgrades over the years, including added passing lanes, improved shoulder space, rumble strips in many areas, and enhanced markings. Those investments have helped, but they don’t eliminate risk when visibility drops, speeds creep up, or when drivers are unfamiliar with the route.
Several immediate, practical considerations are top of mind. First, signage and lane guidance at access points matter. Clear “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs, high-visibility pavement arrows, reflective posts, and consistent lighting on ramps and turnarounds can reduce the chances of an error, especially in the dark or poor weather. A focused review by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure of the Alice Lake to Daisy Lake stretch—particularly the locations where drivers enter or exit the highway—would be a constructive step. If signage is already in place, ensuring it is positioned for maximum visibility, properly lit, and kept free of vegetation is just as important.
Second, predictable speeds and adequate spacing remain critical. Sea to Sky RCMP regularly target speed, impairment, and distraction on Highway 99, and they routinely remind drivers to maintain longer following distances in rain, sleet, or snow. The winter tire requirement on provincial highways, which applies from fall through spring, is in effect on the Sea to Sky. Good winter tires and cautious speeds don’t just help in snowy mountain conditions; they also provide crucial room to react when something unexpected happens ahead.
Third, driver awareness campaigns can make a difference. Simple reminders—keep right except to pass, plan ahead for weather, turn headlights on in low light, and avoid abrupt lane changes—may sound basic, but they’re the behaviours that buy everyone around you more time. For visitors and new residents, clear, plain-language messaging at highway pullouts, trailheads, and parking areas can reinforce local norms, such as reduced speeds near busy access points and extra care when merging back onto the highway.
Residents are also asking what they can do when they see something dangerous. If you encounter a vehicle travelling the wrong way or a serious hazard on the highway, the guidance from police is straightforward: pull over safely if you can, keep your distance, and call 911 to report the location and direction of travel. For non-emergency concerns—like a sign that’s obscured or a confusing merge—contacting the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure or the Sea to Sky RCMP detachment helps ensure those issues are logged and reviewed. Where dashcam footage exists, RCMP may be able to use it as part of an investigation.
Local institutions have roles to play as well. While Highway 99 is a provincial route managed by the Ministry, the District of Squamish can and does advocate for safety improvements at key points where municipal roads connect to the highway. The District’s broader transportation planning also supports safe travel by encouraging alternatives to driving for local trips and working to reduce congestion on community streets that feed into Highway 99. Continued collaboration among the District, the Ministry, and RCMP helps align enforcement, maintenance, and design decisions with what residents are experiencing day to day.
There are encouraging, practical opportunities ahead. A targeted signage and lighting review between Alice Lake and Daisy Lake would address a specific area of concern. Seasonal awareness campaigns—before long weekends and during winter storms—could help set expectations for both local and visiting drivers. Data-driven enforcement days, where RCMP focus on the highest-risk locations and behaviours identified through collision analysis, would add a visible deterrent. And a community feedback channel dedicated to the highway—clearly promoted through municipal and provincial websites—could make it easier for residents to flag near-misses and recurring hazards.
None of these steps by themselves is a fix-all. But layered together—clearer signage where it counts most, steady reminders that encourage courteous, attentive driving, and sustained enforcement where risk is highest—they can reduce the number and severity of crashes. That doesn’t just keep traffic moving; it protects families, frontline responders, and everyone who relies on this corridor to get to work, school, and the outdoors.
As of now, RCMP have not released further details about the January 7 collision. We have asked the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure whether any additional safety measures are being considered in the Alice Lake–Daisy Lake area. We will share updates as soon as they are confirmed. For real-time travel information, DriveBC remains the official source for highway conditions and closures. If you have concerns about a specific location on Highway 99, you can contact the Sea to Sky RCMP for enforcement-related matters and the Ministry for signage or maintenance issues. This is a shared corridor, and keeping it safe is a shared responsibility—one that begins with how each of us chooses to drive.
