Wed Sep 18 15:23:00 UTC 2024: ## Squamish Canyon Project Nears Completion Despite Potential Roadblock from Gas Pipeline Project

**Squamish, BC** – The highly anticipated Squamish Canyon project, a year-round nature attraction set to open in spring 2025, is nearing completion. The 1.3-kilometer boardwalk, winding through the scenic canyon and culminating in a “forest lounge” complete with play area, concessions, and educational exhibits, is expected to become a major draw for tourists and locals alike.

Developer Robin Sherry envisions the project as a way to concentrate tourism in a specific area, providing accessible access to the natural beauty of the canyon while promoting education and sustainable development. The project has already seen significant interest, with the nearby Mamquam Falls trail becoming a social media sensation, further validating the project’s need.

However, a potential roadblock has emerged. FortisBC, the company behind the Eagle Mountain – Woodfibre Gas Pipeline Project, has applied for a temporary use permit (TUP) to build a workers’ accommodation lodge near the canyon. The lodge’s proximity and potential for increased traffic on the access road, which crosses the bridge leading to the canyon, has raised concerns among project developers.

Sherry argues that the increased traffic would significantly disrupt the project’s opening year, impacting its financial viability. He highlights that the project was designed around the existing road being gated off, ensuring a peaceful, nature-focused experience.

In response, FortisBC has outlined mitigation measures, including dust control, traffic management, and shuttle services. They maintain that these measures will minimize disruptions and even offer long-term benefits to the canyon.

Despite this ongoing dispute, Sherry remains optimistic about the project’s future. “We are excited to offer a sustainable and accessible experience for generations to come,” he said, emphasizing the long-term economic and tourism benefits of the project.

The District of Squamish council will ultimately decide on the fate of the FortisBC TUP, potentially impacting the opening of the Squamish Canyon project. While the project is close to completion, the future of this ambitious undertaking remains in the balance.

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