Traffic delays are anticipated starting next week and through the fall, as construction crews bring new infrastructure to a growing Greater Victoria neighbourhood.
According to the City of Colwood, an upgraded signalized intersection and transit exchange is coming to Metchosin Road at Latoria Boulevard in Royal Bay.
With development on the rise in both Royal Bay and Royal Beach, the city says the project aims to damper traffic congestion and enhance safety, supporting walkers, cyclists, transit-goers and drivers alike.
The project plan includes road widening plus a new transit exchange, sidewalks, protected bike lanes and landscaping, and new turning lanes and traffic signals.
But the city notes that work could take longer than expected, should labour or supply shortages arise.
The city has partnered with developer Gable Craft (Royal Bay) and developers Seacliff Properties and Reliance Properties (Royal Beach), with funding coming from the trio’s contributions and Colwood’s Roads Development Cost Charge program.
Once complete, officials say the Royal Bay Commons Retail Village, set to open in 2023, will be more accessible, along with new public spaces, parks, trails, eateries, shops, services and homes being built in the area over the coming years.
In fact, Seacliff and Reliance have together announced plans to bring a plethora of new homes and jobs to the area, all the while injecting over $1.2 billion into the local economy.
In January, the Vancouver-based companies said the coastal Royal Beach development will total 2,850 single-family houses, townhomes and apartments, plus commercial buildings.
The development project should take around 15 years to complete and create more than 10,000 jobs along the way, the companies said.
