Lynn Valley residents say quality of life impacted by Hwy 1 construction, cite safety concerns

By

NORTH VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – People living in Lynn Valley have had to adjust to constant construction in every direction.

With major road improvements underway at Highway 1 and Mountain Highway, many say they see the value in the end result. However, those living on a new detour route are battling with the District of North Vancouver over safety issues.

Since Mountain Highway closed just over a month ago, traffic has been occasionally “nightmarish”.

“Sometimes it takes 20 minutes to just go over the highway and then another 10 minutes to get to the on ramp,” Johannes Merz, who lives in the area, says.

While people living in the area say they can adapt to congestion, they point out the bigger issue is the number of cars speeding through residential areas where the Ministry of Transportation and District have diverted traffic for those coming on and off Highway 1.

“The cars are speeding up here, and people get angry at them, dogs almost get hit,” Merz says.

Kids used to play on the streets in the area, but now Appin Street between 14th Avenue and Mountain Highway is covered in signage with a 30 kilometre per hour speed limit, asking drivers to slow down. Residents say they’re constantly at war with speeding drivers.

“Trying to get anywhere out of Lynn Valley going down Mountain Highway is a real challenge,” Jessica, who also lives in the area, says. “I don’t actually leave Lynn Valley if I don’t have to.”

Some say the occasional presence of RCMP cruisers does make people slow down, but they add officers aren’t around during rush hour — when things are the worst.

Locals have said that they’ve asked for a speed bump to be installed, but were apparently told it would impede the flow of traffic. They say they’ll continue to write council.

NEWS 1130 has reached out to the District of North Vancouver for comment.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today