The City of Colwood is looking at options for a pedestrian and cyclist overpass to link the Galloping Goose Regional Trail across the Island Highway by Wale Road.
Currently, users on the trail must detour via Wale Road, cross at the light over Island Highway, and travel along a section of sidewalk to reconnect with the trail.
“To make it more confusing, there is a small section of trail that cuts across from Wale Road to the Highway, but ends there dangerously, with no safe crossing in sight,” the City of Colwood said in a statement on Wednesday.
“In the worst case scenario, trail users try to avoid this frustrating detour by dashing across 5 lanes of traffic on the Island Highway, risking their lives and the lives of drivers.”
Colwood undertook a study in 2012 to determine the feasibility and cost of constructing an overpass that would connect the ends of the Galloping Goose Trail.
They say the overpass would include accessibility components and could be beautified in collaboration with the Songhees, Scia’new and Esquimalt Nations.
In order to finance the project, the City has applied for a grant from the federal “Investing in Canada Infrastructure” program. They estimate the full cost of the project will be $4.9 million, with $1.4 million taken from municipal reserves.
If the grant application is successful, planning would begin in March 2021 with construction lasting for a year beginning in October 2021.
