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Post by fargowolf on Oct 4, 2009 17:49:09 GMT -8
(Not sure if this is posted in the right spot or not.... )
Was looking through the highways projects part of the MoTH site and came across this rehabilitation project for the Darrell Bay Ferry terminal.
Ruskin Construction Ltd. was awarded a contract valued at $1,822,650 for pile installation; repairs and modification to the existing timber trestle; installation of a pontoon, ramp and apron; installation of two floating leads; and construction of a new ramp abutment at Darrell Bay, south of Squamish. The Darrell Bay Ferry Terminal is being rehabilitated to enable the provision of emergency ferry transportation between Squamish and the Lower Mainland in the event of extended emergency highway closures on Highway 99 between Porteau Cove and Darrell Bay. Construction is expected to start September 1, 2009 and end November 30, 2009.
Questions regarding this project may be referred to Mike Hallas, Project Manager, at 250-356-9328.
I find it (the project) rather interesting, as I don't think the terminal can handle a larger ferry, unlike the dock at Porteu Cove Provincial park. Mind you, it could include reconstruction so that said lager ferry, could indeed use the dock. Anyone have a better idea of what they are doing?
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Post by lmtengs on Oct 4, 2009 18:16:52 GMT -8
(Not sure if this is posted in the right spot or not.... ) Was looking through the highways projects part of the MoTH site and came across this rehabilitation project for the Darrell Bay Ferry terminal. Ruskin Construction Ltd. was awarded a contract valued at $1,822,650 for pile installation; repairs and modification to the existing timber trestle; installation of a pontoon, ramp and apron; installation of two floating leads; and construction of a new ramp abutment at Darrell Bay, south of Squamish. The Darrell Bay Ferry Terminal is being rehabilitated to enable the provision of emergency ferry transportation between Squamish and the Lower Mainland in the event of extended emergency highway closures on Highway 99 between Porteau Cove and Darrell Bay. Construction is expected to start September 1, 2009 and end November 30, 2009. Questions regarding this project may be referred to Mike Hallas, Project Manager, at 250-356-9328. I find it (the project) rather interesting, as I don't think the terminal can handle a larger ferry, unlike the dock at Porteu Cove Provincial park. Mind you, it could include reconstruction so that said lager ferry, could indeed use the dock. Anyone have a better idea of what they are doing? Me thinks it has something to do with having an emergency access route to Whistler during the 2010 olly's in case there's another rockslide on the Sea to Sky Highway during the games period, or to transport the media so they don't need to wait in the parking lot that hwy 99 will be during the games. If you'll let me dream a bit, maybe they're secretly planning a new Squamish-Langdale or Sqaumish-Horshoe Bay ferry route. Maybe THIS is why the QoPR, QoV and QoS haven't been sold or scrapped yet. They'll use them on this route. Heh-heh...
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Post by Dane on Oct 4, 2009 19:44:13 GMT -8
Construction is on now, it's very active down there.
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Post by fargowolf on Oct 4, 2009 19:46:23 GMT -8
I don't think it's just for the Olympics, but may be an actual attempt to provide alternate transportation around the closed portions of highway. In theory, this could have happened several times in the past when the highway was closed because of rockslides and MVA's. But, no temporary service was ever implemented. At this time, there are three (four counting Langdale) terminals/docks. Horseshoe Bay, Porteau Cove Provincial Park (Built in 1992 I believe), Darrell Bay and Langdale. On the other hand... A Squamish/Langdale route would certainly popular. I think it might even be feasible, to operate such a service in the summer.
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Post by lmtengs on Oct 4, 2009 20:29:37 GMT -8
On the other hand... A Squamish/Langdale route would certainly popular. I think it might even be feasible, to operate such a service in the summer. What kind of ferry would serve this potential route though? I don't think there would be enough traffic for a V-class brought back into service, even if they closed off the top deck the way they did with the QoBurnaby. Maybe an M/V Island Sky size vessel for spring and autumn and Klitsa could tag along for the summer and Winter (whistler's skiing and mountain biking seasons). The route would probably take an average of 35 to 40 minutes if they were sailing at about 20 kn. I'm not sure if that's a reasonable sailing speed though... The Klitsa would move slower, so lets give about an hour and a half? My 'pretend' schedule is: WINTER/SUMMER: Leave Langdale: 7am, 9am*, 12pm, 2pm*, 4pm, 7pm* Leave Darrell Bay: 7am*, 9am, 12pm*, 2pm, 4pm*, 7pm times with '*' are run by Klitsa, all others by Island Sky SPRING/AUTUMN: Leave Langdale: 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm Leave Darrell Bay: 8am, 12pm, 4pm, 8pm all times run by Island Sky Heheh... I kinda overthought some aspects of this...
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Kam
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Post by Kam on Oct 4, 2009 20:32:29 GMT -8
I wonder if the C's with the internal ramps are in the plans to be used at this new dock?
The capacity would make sense and if a rebuild is under way the dock could be reconfigured to take a C class ship..
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Post by Dane on Oct 4, 2009 21:07:45 GMT -8
The Porteau dock certainly couldn't facilitate a C.... There's actually a user guide showing what vessels can use it in the Dogwood Fleet - but that problem is half of them have been retired
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Post by DENelson83 on Oct 5, 2009 11:25:23 GMT -8
I'd like to see a few piccies of the work being done right now at Darrell Bay.
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Post by Nickfro on Oct 5, 2009 12:33:50 GMT -8
The Porteau berth hasn't seen any activity except for filming. Darrell Bay will probably be the same. However, it's good to have a functioning berth in place for emergency situations, but it'll have to be an extremely major event that lasts multiple weeks for the dock to get used for such a situation.
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Post by lmtengs on Oct 5, 2009 14:22:07 GMT -8
I read elsewhere that the Porteau Cove dock is 'rotten' and needs a major refit. Is this real, or rumour?
Also, about what nickfro said about the filming thing, I thought that there used to be a tourist ferry that met the royal hudson at that spot a long time ago, and you could have booked a round trip from West Van to There on the hudson, then back down via ferry, or the other way around. It makes good sense, since if you walk up to the fence that divides the railway tracks from the main park area, there is actually a concrete platform and a small bulding foundation, as well as a pedestrian ramp that goes right into the park (gated entry to ramp is kept locked).
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Post by Nickfro on Oct 5, 2009 14:31:39 GMT -8
Also, about what nickfro said about the filming thing, I thought that there used to be a tourist ferry that met the royal hudson at that spot a long time ago, and you could have booked a round trip from West Van to There on the hudson, then back down via ferry, or the other way around. Myth. I have never heard of such a thing, nor would I know what boat they would have used for such a trip. Being a frequent sea to sky traveller over the past 25 years, I don't recall such a package with the Royal Hudson.
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Oct 5, 2009 14:43:35 GMT -8
Also, about what nickfro said about the filming thing, I thought that there used to be a tourist ferry that met the royal hudson at that spot a long time ago, and you could have booked a round trip from West Van to There on the hudson, then back down via ferry, or the other way around. Myth. I have never heard of such a thing, nor would I know what boat they would have used for such a trip. Being a frequent sea to sky traveller over the past 25 years, I don't recall such a package with the Royal Hudson. There was in fact at one point during the 80s the option to travel by the Royal Hudson train to Squamish and then return to North Van from Squamish on the MV Britannia, or vice versa: taking the ship to Squamish and returning via the train. This was part of the excursion service during its hey day, but it did not use Darrell Bay or Porteau Cove. If there is a passenger platform at Porteau Cove, it may possibly have been served by the dayliner service when the RDCs were still in operation on the railway. The terminal at Darrell Bay was built for one service only and that was the run to Woodfibre, no regular tourist or passenger service has ever operated from there. Check your facts next time... if you think you've read it, find the source, I wanna see fully documented MLA style notes with in-text citations and a full bibliography ;D.
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Oct 5, 2009 14:52:14 GMT -8
There was in fact at one point during the 80s the option to travel by the Royal Hudson train to Squamish and then return to North Van from Squamish on the MV Britannia. That particular package was available into the 90's. I did that exact trip about fifteen years ago.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 5, 2009 14:56:03 GMT -8
Also, about what nickfro said about the filming thing, I thought that there used to be a tourist ferry that met the royal hudson at that spot a long time ago, and you could have booked a round trip from West Van to There on the hudson, then back down via ferry, or the other way around. Myth. I have never heard of such a thing, nor would I know what boat they would have used for such a trip. Being a frequent sea to sky traveller over the past 25 years, I don't recall such a package with the Royal Hudson. Myth-believers at your service: Here's a trip report: hubpages.com/hub/Join-us-on-our-Boat-Steam-Train-Daytrip-from-Vancouver-to-Squamish-and-back
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ProudCanuck
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Post by ProudCanuck on Oct 5, 2009 15:16:30 GMT -8
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Post by Nickfro on Oct 5, 2009 15:39:21 GMT -8
Fair enough. I knew it didn't involve Porteau Cove though, which is what I was getting at. Definitely would have been a neat trip to go on, as very few people travel from Squamish to the city via the water. (A bit more of an eyesore now after the highway project)
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Kam
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Post by Kam on Oct 5, 2009 16:56:02 GMT -8
Well, that says it all:
First line, page 79 -
So either the Coquitlam or the Cowichan with the internal ramps shuttling back and forth would keep the traffic moving nicely.
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 5, 2009 16:57:39 GMT -8
The railway platform and other remains at Porteau Cove are likely left overs from the Pacific Starlight Dinner Train... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BC_Railcdnrail.railfan.net/BCRDintrain/BCRDintrain/dintrnbcr.jpgI was once treated to an excursion on that train. It was very nice. It ran from the BCR North Van station to Porteau Cove. There was music & entertainment there. After about and hoiur at Porteau the engines were moved to the other end of the train for the return trip. All BCR passenger services were discontinued by the Campbell government at the end of October 2002. The Starlight Dinner Train was among the casualties.
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 5, 2009 17:19:03 GMT -8
If the Darrell Bay terminal is being upgraded do handle vessels the size of 'C's, where to they anticipate running these C's from - HSB or Porteau Cove, or maybe either one? If Porteau Cove, then I assume that upgrades are needed there also?
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Kam
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Post by Kam on Oct 5, 2009 19:56:08 GMT -8
I make that run about 40Km, so roughly 1 hour 15 minutes give or take..
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Post by Dane on Oct 5, 2009 23:10:59 GMT -8
Being the manager of Porteau Cove, I can say with great authority the dock is fine. It is inspected every year, and recieves maintenance as required, including two weeks ago when considerable work was done, albeit for the movies.
Being an ex-employee of BC Rail's Royal Hudson Steam Train, I can tell you the Brittania ran up until our very last day of service.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Oct 6, 2009 6:20:26 GMT -8
Also, about what nickfro said about the filming thing, I thought that there used to be a tourist ferry that met the royal hudson at that spot a long time ago, and you could have booked a round trip from West Van to There on the hudson, then back down via ferry, or the other way around. Myth. I have never heard of such a thing, nor would I know what boat they would have used for such a trip. Being a frequent sea to sky traveller over the past 25 years, I don't recall such a package with the Royal Hudson. That trip is one of those things you put off for the "next time" and regret it. One of my trips back I decided to get to the Island earlier because a phone call told me a room was available where I was wait listed, so I shelved the Royal Hudson/Britannia combo. And of course pffffffffft it was withdrawn. I had never sailed on the Britannia and thought I would really enjoy it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2009 13:15:55 GMT -8
A couple of pictures taken this morning. Darrell Bay under construction .... Floating leads, pontoon and ramp have been removed. What's left of the Woodfibre landing. Will probably be removed in the future as part of the site cleanup. I'll try to get some more pictures as the work progresses at Darrell Bay.
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Post by fargowolf on Oct 7, 2009 15:08:05 GMT -8
Being the manager of Porteau Cove, I can say with great authority the dock is fine. It is inspected every year, and recieves maintenance as required I can back that up, as I used to go out there quite a bit, just to get out of the apt. for a bit. Every now and again, someone had been out there, as the loading bridge had been adjusted and was sitting at a different angle. So I'm guessing that (raising and lowering the bridge) would be part of the basic maintenance for that dock, to keep the hinges and such in working order.
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Post by Retrovision on Oct 15, 2009 17:55:42 GMT -8
Has nothing to do with the Olympics... I would think that the timing has a lot to do with the Olympics, and might have even been a request by or requirement of the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit for the sake of fail-safe ground access to and from Whistler.
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