Lynn Valley residents say quality of life impacted by Hwy 1 construction, cite safety concerns
Posted May 3, 2019 5:59 am.
Last Updated May 3, 2019 6:17 am.
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.
People living on Appin St in #NorthVancouver are begging drivers to slow down when following the construction detour past their homes. They have covered the street in signage to no avail. pic.twitter.com/6uTEmqiNPm
— Ash Kelly she/her (settler) (@AshDKelly) May 3, 2019
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.
Upcoming #BCHwy1 closures for Mountain Highway Interchange night work: May 3-5, 11 pm to 5 am, between Lynn Valley and Fern St. exits: https://t.co/jafLPitIew #NorthVan pic.twitter.com/h1AGOzgyQn
— BC Transportation (@TranBC) May 2, 2019
“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.”
Closures of Mountain Highway mean thousands of vehicles a day now drive through the normally quiet Kirkstone neighborhood. Residents say people go upwards of 70 or 80 in 30km/hr zone. pic.twitter.com/H7fMHn5TOq
— Ash Kelly (@AshDKelly) May 3, 2019
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.