The project may have started, but the controversy over Stickle Road continues.

BC Green Party leader Andrew Weaver has fired off a letter to Transportation Minister Claire Treven asking for answers as to why the project has moved forward without habitat and pedestrian/cyclling issues being addressed.

“It is my understanding that the impacted wetland is key habitat for four protected species – the screech owl, Western skink, Western grebe and American badger – and that the proposed changes will not accommodate bike or pedestrian travel,” Weaver said in his letter. “I view these as substantial drawbacks to the proposal as it currently stands and would appreciate clarification as to why they are not being better addressed.”

Weaver said he had received “a significant amount of correspondence” on the $9.5 million project that will see changes made at the Highway 97-Stickle Road intersection and an extension of 20th street built from Stickle to behind the Rona store, right through middle of the BX Creek Trail.

Weaver included in his letter, a quote from the correspondence that read:

"In the interest of saving a wetland with protected species in it, making the intersection in question safe for not just cars, but also bikes and pedestrians, would the ministries involved take the stop-gap measure to stop the current plan and lower the speed limit to 50 km/hour and take the time to develop a plan that works for multiple different stakeholder groups?"

Construction work on the project got underway earlier this month.

The project has been strongly opposed by local Green Party supporter Keli Westgate who ran against Liberal MLA Eric Foster in the last election. Foster is a strong supporter of the project.