Protestors impacted traffic on East Hastings Street and Clark Drive resulting in minor delays on Tuesday afternoon. However, Hastings Street is now open in both directions.
Vancouver Police tweeted that Westbound traffic on East Hastings Street and Clark Drive was being impacted due to the demonstration. As such, drivers were advised to consider an alternative route.
VPD have since advised that the area is clear.
#VanTraffic: Westbound traffic on East Hastings Street and Clark Drive is impacted due to protesters. Drivers are advised to consider alternative route. pic.twitter.com/83tfllqL5Z
— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) February 18, 2020
TransLink also tweeted about the protest, noting that a scheduled detour would assume a regular route due to the protest.#VanTraffic: Hastings Street is now open in both directions.
— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) February 19, 2020
#RiderAlert Update: R5 Hastings St to Burrard Station detour. Regular route to Hastings & Salisbury, then Salisbury, Franklin, Commercial, Powell, Main, Hastings resume regular route due to march. ^JC
— TransLink BC (@TransLink) February 18, 2020
The protestors are supporting First Nations opponents to a natural gas pipeline in northern B.C. The demonstration follows a week of protests across the country, including one that blocked off the Granville Street Bridge in both directions following a rally at the B.C. Supreme Court.
Happening Now: Protesters on Hastings st, west of Clarke dr (Vernon dr) making their way westbound. Not causing any significant traffic delays. @NEWS1130Traffic @JACK969van @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/cphSrRYub0
— Danger On Air (@DangerOnAir) February 18, 2020
Thousands of B.C. forestry workers and their supporters are planned to gather for a rally on the B.C. legislature lawn Tuesday afternoon, coinciding with the release of the province’s 2020 budget.
The rally is intended to bring attention to the revenue the forestry industry creates and the people it supports, from loggers and tree fallers to industry suppliers and business owners, said Carl Sweet, a heavy equipment salesman in Campbell River and one of the event’s organizers.
