Major upgrades to Sooke Road are nearly complete

Highway 14 – or Sooke Rd – has just undergone some major changes, and will look a little more different by the end of the year.

The $10 million Highway 14 Corridor Improvement project was first introduced in January 2018 by Premier John Horgan, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca, who plans to announce another significant upgrade to the corridor soon.

“If you’ve driven this highway recently, you’ve likely noticed the new bus pull-outs, improved lighting and signage, and a rest area at Sombrio Beach that will open later this month,” said Premier Horgan.

“But as I said back in January, this is just the start. We’ve now heard from daily commuters, transit users and cyclists, and I’m thrilled to soon announce the next major steps in improving this vital corridor.”

The highlight reel

Here are some of the main aspects of the project:

• 3 new bus pull-outs on both sides of Highway 14 – completed
• New safety signs at three locations – completed
• New rest area at Sombrio Beach – to be completed by the end of September 2018
• Slow-moving vehicle pullout east of Muir Creek – scheduled to be completed October 2018
• New two-lane bridge on Gillespie Road – scheduled to be completed November 2018
• Bus-queue jump lane at Jacklin Road – construction to begin late 2018, scheduled for completion in spring 2019
• Sooke River Road intersection – construction to begin fall 2018, scheduled for completion in summer 2019

According to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, the main goal of this venture is to reduce the number of collisions and make the highway safer for drivers, cyclists, transit users, and pedestrians alike.

• See also: Province announces $10 million in upgrades for Sooke Road