A Vancouver subway tunnel was blocked by protesters during the trip on Monday morning.
Members of Save Old Growth, a group behind other protests that have disrupted traffic in recent months, announced it would block the north entrance of the George Massey Tunnel on Monday, stopping traffic to the south.
The BC Department of Transportation confirmed that the tunnel was blocked at around 7:15 a.m., saying drivers should “wait for major delays and congestion.”
The group also blocked traffic on the second Narrows Bridge Monday morning. At around 7.30am, police were in the area removing protesters from the crossing.
At 9 a.m., protesters were driven out of both the Massey Tunnel and the Second Strait.
Save Old Growth said it took a six-week break to recruit and train more protesters, adding that it is resuming a series of roadblocks and bridges on the Vancouver Metro and Vancouver Island.
“This time we are trying to make sure it is a permanent occupation on the highway, which is unprecedented,” Save Old Growth spokesman Zain Haq said over the weekend.
“If we retire on the first day, the plan is to come back the next day and the next day with more numbers until there is a critical mass that cannot be easily removed.”
Save Old Growth calls for an end to deforestation in British Columbia through legislative changes.
A group of counter-protesters, called Clear the Road, accused Save Old Growth of taking the travelers hostage and is planning to start a class action lawsuit against them.
“I’m very concerned that their actions are heating up to the point where it’s even more dangerous for travelers and the RCMP,” said Tamara Meggit, organizer of Clear the Road.
“Anyone who has been affected by these (protests), anyone who has lost work or anything like that, let us know your story. We are looking to document and a class action will be discussed. with law firms “.
This is a developing story. Please check for updates again.
Archived by Shannon Paterson and Regan Hasegawa of CTV News Vancouver