Dear Editor:
As some readers likely have noticed, major construction of new houses and exit ramp “repairs” commenced in Horseshoe Bay within the last year. Among other things, this has led to an increased volume of construction trucks on the Upper Levels Highway west of Taylor Way.
What most readers might not have noticed, however, is that too many of these trucks are driving well above 90 km/h, the posted speed limit along the stretch of highway between Taylor Way and Horseshoe Bay. And more often than one would expect, they are driving in the passing lane. These are empty construction trucks returning from Horseshoe Bay to other parts of Greater Vancouver for more building supplies.
In light of the above observations, I should not be too surprised that during the past six months my SUV has sustained two seriously cracked (irreparable) windshields as I drove west between Taylor Way and Horseshoe Bay, from rocks being converted into high-velocity projectiles by these speeding empty construction trucks. But we must all learn to embrace progress in our beloved city, right?
My (obvious) advice: Stay out of the passing lane as much as possible when driving down the Upper Levels Highway, especially when heading west of Taylor Way. And also hope that the highway patrol will start giving more speeding tickets where they really are warranted, since construction trucks are much heavier and thus much more dangerous than passenger vehicles.
Walter Cicha
West Vancouver
What are your thoughts? Send us a letter via email by clicking here or post a comment below.
