(CBC News-British Columbia posted the following story on its website on July 4.)
VICTORIA — The provincial government is going ahead with its plan to pave a 13.5-kilometre section of the B.C. Rail railbed, to create a new lane for the Sea-to-Sky Highway south of Squamish.
The new lane will run parallel to the existing highway from Furry Creek to Britannia Beach.
It would look much like a street car line — with pavement between the rails — allowing the the trains to keep running.
It will be used as a detour during highway construction — and then as a third lane to ease traffic congestion during the actual Olympics.
Planners say it will remain in place for about 18 months, and will be removed as soon as the games are over.
Transportation Minister Judith Reid says that’s the only part of the Sea-to- Sky Highway project that was contingent on Vancouver being awarded the Olympics.
She says the rest of the $600-million plan would have gone ahead anyway.
The proposal was greeted with some scepticism when it was first revealed earlier this year.
NDP leader Joy MacPhail had said she feared it was part of a plan to rip up the B.C. Rail line through Squamish.