Vehicles backed up at the Tsawwassen ferry terminal Friday morning. (CBC/Twitter: jen_aldcroft)
As the busy Easter long weekend kicked off Friday some B.C. Ferries customers are facing major delays.
Multiple waits, full parking and completely booked routes left many travelers frustrated.
Those heading from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay are looking at a two sailing wait for both regular and oversized vehicles. Around noon there was a four sailing wait.
All routes heading from Vancouver to the Southern Gulf Islands are fully booked.
The lineup at the BC Ferries terminal in Tsawwassen (Jake Costello/CBC)
Traffic controllers had to be called in at the mainland terminal as cars started backing up at the causeway. Some routes faced delays as drivers were stuck in traffic.
Parking lots there and at Horseshoe Bay are completely full.
Horseshoe Bay also saw significant delays for those heading to the Island, with a two sailing wait to Departure Bay by Friday afternoon. Cars could be seen backed up on the highway leading to the terminal.
Traffic backed up to the highway near the Horeshoe Bay ferry terminal (Photo: Myson Effa)
“We are definitely seeing higher volumes of traffic, we want to thank our customers for their patience,” said B.C. Ferries spokesperson Astrid Braunschmidt.
“Our highest volumes on Easter weekend are on Thursday evening and Friday morning, then things calm down on the weekends but pick up [again] on Monday.”
Customers are advised to arrive early and keep an eye on B.C. Ferries’ current conditions site and Twitter.
Additional sailings were also scheduled to help reduce congestion. From April 18 to 23, 89 extra sailings are scheduled on three routes which link Metro Vancouver with Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.
Seventy extra sailings are scheduled on the Vancouver – Victoria route.
@BCFerries (1/2) a Park & Go shuttle full of passengers missed the 9am ferry to Swartz Bay b/c cars lined up to board ferry blocked access to drop off area. A 5 min shuttle ride took 45!
— Jonathan Evans (@jonrevans) April 19, 2019
CHEK News
