As British Columbians prepare to celebrate Canada Day, officials are urging people to plan ahead and stay safe, with traffic congestion expected on ferries, highways and at the airport.
For BC Ferries, the Canada Day long weekend is the second busiest travel period of the year behind BC Day.
“We feel we are fully prepared for the long weekend and want to ensure our customers get to their destinations safely and comfortably,” Reet Sidhu, the company's senior communications adviser, told CBC News on Friday.
She is encouraging passengers hoping to use the ferry without a reservation from Vancouver's Tsawwassen Bay to Victoria's Swats Bay, one of BC Ferries' busiest routes, to consider traveling as foot passengers to avoid waiting to depart.
Reet Sidhu, senior communications adviser for BC Ferries, says 500,000 passengers are expected over the Canada Day long weekend, making it the second-busiest weekend of the year for ferry travel. (Sourabh Sandhu/CBC)
BC Ferries says it expects nearly 500,000 passengers on all its routes from Friday through Monday.
After facing numerous challenges last year, including staffing shortages, last-minute cancellations and long wait times, the company said it has increased sailings and changed staffing this year to ensure a smooth summer travel experience.
Sidoo said BC Ferries has added 350 new sailings, including 44 between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay and new early morning sailings, and has hired 600 new staff for the summer.
The company has also tightened its annual refit schedule to avoid cancellations during peak seasons. Refits, which involve safety inspections and work on major components like engines and brakes, typically require ships to be taken out of service for 30 to 90 days.
⛴️ Caution – Traffic will be high this long weekend, so please be aware #InlandFerries Waiting for departure is expected.
ℹ️ #UpperArrowLakeFerry – #ShelterBay So wait 1-2 hours
ℹ️ #NeedlesFerry – #NeedlesBC and #FauquierBC Wait 1-2 hours on both #BCHwy23 #BCHwy6 pic.twitter.com/sDJeTbprYM
YVR is also crowded
Preparations for the long weekend at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) also began in earnest on Friday.
Around 84,000 passengers are expected to use the airport each day over the long weekend, with Friday being the busiest day, said Emad Agahi, communications specialist at YVR.
Vancouver International Airport is also gearing up for a busy weekend, with traveller numbers expected to reach an estimated 335,000 between June 28 and July 1. (Evan Mitzi/CBC)
According to airport officials, about 7.8 million passengers are expected to use the airport this summer, a 9.6 percent increase over the same period last year.
Agahi said information counters around the airport will be staffed during peak travel periods and digital tools will also be available to help people get to their gates on time.
Dangerous driving behaviour in traffic jams
The BC Highway Patrol says there will be increased traffic enforcement across the province over the long weekend in other parts of the province.
In a statement this week, the BC Highway Patrol said it will be keeping a watchful eye for drunk driving, especially around recreation areas and festivals where alcohol is served.
Penalties for DUI include a 24-hour driving ban, an immediate driving ban for three, 30, or 90 days with vehicle impoundment, and possible criminal charges.
On the roads, the B.C. Highway Patrol will be on high alert watching for drunk drivers, especially near recreation areas and festivals.(Winston Seto/CBC)
The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) said in an email to CBC News that there were approximately 605 crashes in British Columbia over the Canada Day long weekend, resulting in an average of one death and 176 injuries. Speed and impairment were the primary factors in the majority of these crashes.
Passengers should take precautions before traveling:
Ahead of the Canada Day long weekend, the British Columbia government issued a statement advising travellers to exercise caution and be prepared as warm weather and drought have increased the risk of wildfires in many parts of the province.
The ministry urges travellers to stay informed about wildfire conditions, adhere to fire bans and restrictions, and check for the latest information on road closures, evacuation notices and other restrictions, including BC Park closures.
British Columbia's Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is also expecting increased traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway over the long weekend and is urging drivers to allow extra travel time.
