Heads up Gran Fondo cycling race Saturday - expect delays

[squamish climber]

Around 7,000 riders will be on the Sea to Sky on Saturday morning for the Whistler Gran Fondo. Be prepared for a slow drive up and limited access to the Chief and Shannon Falls.

I recall driving up last year on race day and dealing with temporary lane closures and single lane only on the way up. I was going up to climb Skywalker and getting into the Shannon Creek parking lot was not too much of a problem.

According to the Pique the Gran Fondo will have the following impacts:

In Squamish there are numerous delays and closures. There is limited access to Shannon Falls and Stawamus Chief and Clarke Drive, and no access to Scott Crescent and Loggers Lane from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. There is some access to Brennan Park via Discovery Way and Centennial Way. As well, there are closures on Mamquam Road and on Garibaldi Way from 8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

[BlahMatt]

I'll second the memories of massive delays last year. It took almost 2 hours from horseshoe bay to get to Squamish. I'll suggest heading up the night before or after 11 to avoid the chaos.

[smallman]

So does anyone know if the District of Squamish gets any cash for having this race create traffic chaos for anyone who lives here? Because the economic benefits would seem to be primarily to Whistler's hospitality industry. Or is this similar to the Olympics - all the inconvenience for a rich boys party?

[coastal_climber]

Well apparently the town got 650k in tourism/race related income according to the events founders, wich has got to be a healthy guestimate.

[tobyfk]

A reminder that this tiresome event rolls on for another year with the whole of the Squamish population east of the 99 (Valleycliffe, Highlands, Garibaldi Estates, etc) being imprisoned in their homes from 8am -11am on Saturday 6th.
http://granfondowhistler.com/about-even ... ic-impacts

Not too good for climbing visitors either:
"SHANNON FALLS & STAWAMUS CHIEF PROVINCIAL PARKS LIMITED ACCESS TO THESE AREAS BETWEEN 8AM-11AM EXPECT DELAYS OR PLAN ALTERNATE TRAVEL TIME"
http://granfondowhistler.com/sites/rbcg ... A_2013.pdf

[squamish climber]

A reminder that the race is this Saturday. The Chief paper summarizes the delays around Squamish

Cyclists then wind their way through North Vancouver and West Vancouver before blasting through Lions Bay, Furry Creek, Britannia Beach and then Squamish.

As in past years, the course will travel along Highway 99 through Squamish during the morning hours, with several road closures in effect at east-west crossings of Highway 99 in Squamish.

Generally there will be intermittent delays from 8:30 to 8:45 a.m., full closure from 8:45 to 10:45 a.m., frequent delays from 10:45 to 11 a.m. and more intermittent delays from 11 a.m. till noon at all east-west crossings of Highway 99.

Access to Brennan Park can be gained by turning left on Industrial Way from Highway 99 and going under the Centennial Way underpass. Corridor Trail, the Garibaldi overpass and Centennial Way will be open for residents all morning long.

Roads closed and barricaded from 8 to 11 a.m. include: Valley Drive, Clarke Drive, Scott Crescent, Loggers Lane, Finch Drive, Mamquam Road (east) and Garibaldi Way (east).

I climbed two years ago the day of the race and recall being allowed to turn into Shannon Falls with the help of a flagger.

[squamish climber]

So how was it for getting around on Saturday. Any better this year?

[natsdad]

Hi Dave:

We had a "family" climbing day on Saturday w/ four families (lots o' kids) driving up from Vancouver (one family from West Vancouver). Because of the Gran Fondo, we left later than planned - hoping to arrive at Murrin Park around 1 PM - after most of the highway diversions (between Van & Squish) had ended. We allowed 1.5 hours for that drive. All of us arrived way earlier than planned. We had a fun day climbing at the Commonwealth and Valley of Lost Tribes - Thanks Smallman! - and then swam in Browning Lake. A great day.

I can't compare to last year as my plan then was to drive up very early, prior to the start of the highway diversions. That was also a great day of climbing (the highway noise was much less!).

cheers,
Steve