Heavy traffic delays are expected between West Vancouver and Whistler when the GranFondo Whistler race commences this Saturday.
Drivers are advised to expect delays of up to three hours between 5:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., according to the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
More than 4,500 participating cyclists are scheduled to travel over the Lions Gate Bridge, up Taylor Way and Cypress Bowl Road, and along the Upper Levels Highway 1 and Highway 99 before finishing in Whistler.
Motorists are advised to use the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing Saturday morning, as the Stanley Park Causeway and Lions Gate Bridge will be closed to northbound traffic from 5:30 to 8 a.m. Access to Stanley Park Drive from Georgia Street will be closed from 3 to 8 a.m.
Marine Drive between Capilano Road and Taylor Way will be closed westbound between 5:30 and 8 a.m., during which time traffic will be rerouted to Lower Capilano Road, Welch Street, Wardance Street and Taylor Way.
Cypress Bowl Road will be closed from Highway 1 between 5:30 and 8 a.m., except for local traffic, as approximately 250 cyclists are expected to travel along Cypress Bowl Road with police escorts. The road will be closed to southbound traffic from 7:15 to 8:15 a.m.
Between 5:30 and 10 a.m., eastbound ferry traffic and local traffic exiting from Horseshoe Bay will be rerouted to the Marine Drive detour route through West Vancouver.
Traffic southbound on Highway 99 will be detoured at the Pasco Road exit, via Horseshoe Bay Drive to Marine Drive from 5 to 11 a.m.
This is the 10th year the 122-kilometre GranFondo Whistler is taking place, with riders representing 45 countries starting off from Stanley Park and working their way through West Vancouver and the Sea-to-Sky Highway before landing in Whistler.
Visit the B.C. government’s website to see more details from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure on road closures in effect for the cycling event.
