With a reassessment and potential lifting of some lockdown restrictions in British Columbia on the 25th of May, Premier John Horgan made it clear that he wants absolutely no one jumping the gun. .“Health orders are in place, travel restrictions are in place until the end of the long weekend,” said Horgan during a press conference with Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry. .“Not the beginning, not Saturday, not Sunday, not Monday, but the end.” .As a means of ensuring that Horgan’s orders will be obeyed, there will be an increase of COVID-19 road checks this weekend at four established locations:.Highway 1 in the Boston Bar area;Highway 3 in the Manning Park area;Highway 5 in the Old Toll Booth area;Highway 99 in the Lillooet area..According to Superintendent Holly Turton, with BC Highway Patrol, from May 6 to 8 officers checked a total of 1,412 vehicles, and there was one voluntary turn around. From May 14 to 16, a total of 2,069 vehicles were checked, and 30 vehicles voluntarily turned around..“While overall traffic volume has been less than normal levels, we did see an increase in traffic this past weekend,” said Turton. .“The public has been supportive of our officers at the checks, we know more people are typically on our roads and highways on long weekends. We would like all travellers to know we will be increasing the number and duration of the road checks leading up to, and through this long weekend.” .In addition to the highway check points, BC Ferries is reminding the public they will be deterring camper vans and trailers from boarding vessels over to the long weekend if they are on routes that cross health zones..These sailings include:.Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay;Tsawwassen – Duke Point;Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands;Horseshoe Bay – Departure BayComox – Powell River;Port Hardy – Prince Rupert..“In advance of the May long weekend, which is typically a popular travel time, BC Ferries is reminding customers the Province’s travel restrictions order remains in effect and travel is limited to essential reasons only,” said the company in a press release..Reid Small is a BC Correspondent for the Western Standard.rsmall@westernstandardonline.com
