Planning to drive anywhere on Saturday morning? You might want to plan ahead lest you get stuck waiting for a peloton of 5,000 bulging-calfed cyclists to pass. The annual RBC GrandFondo Whistler is set to close numerous local roads or lanes of traffic starting at 5:30 a.m.
- The Stanley Park Causeway and Lions Gate Bridge will be closed to northbound traffic until 8:30 a.m. One southbound lane will remain open. Stanley Park Drive will be fully closed.
- Westbound Marine Drive will be reduced to a single lane between Capilano Road and Taylor Way, until 8:30 a.m. Access to Taylor Way may be intermittent until 9 a.m. Southbound access to the Lions Gate Bridge will remain open via Marine Drive.
- Highway 1 – both eastbound lanes on the Upper Levels will be closed between Taylor Way and Horseshoe Bay, from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Drivers are advised to use Marine Drive eastbound.
- Cypress Bowl Road should be avoided until 8:30 a.m. as a group of 600 riders receive a police escort to the top and back.
- Between 5:30 and 11 a.m., westbound Highway 1 traffic and northbound Highway 99 traffic will be re-routed via Exit 2 to Old Highway 99 (Horseshoe Bay Drive). Traffic will re-enter Highway 99 northbound at Pasco Road.
- Heavy trucks travelling between Horseshoe Bay and Taylor Way and Highway 99 southbound will be stopped/re-directed to a temporary parking location at Horseshoe Bay until the highway re-opens.
- Horseshoe Bay ferry traffic and westbound locals will have to use Marine Drive until 9:30 a.m.
- Those headed south on the Sea to Sky Highway will be detoured at the Pascoe Road exit via Old Highway 99 and directed to Marine Drive between 5:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
“Motorists are also advised to plan their travel well in advance, drive with caution and follow signs,” a message from the organizers reads. “For the safety of everyone, there will be some traffic pattern changes throughout the day. Thank you for your co-operation and for supporting all of the volunteers, spectators, and the athletes who have trained so hard for this day. Together we can create a successful day for all.”
