The Province announced that two bridges will soon be undergoing construction so vehicles travelling between the Westshore and Victoria can have more reliable commutes.
Both bridges are located near the interchange at the Trans-Canada Highway and Burnside Road that pass over Colquitz Creek.
The duo of two lane Highway 1 bridges will undergo widening as well as seismic retrofitting.
A lane wide enough for a bus to fit in the shoulder of the road in either direction will be added to both bridges, which will allow for the bus lane to continue through the bridges, rather than having to merge with traffic.
This will allow buses to have a dedicated lane extending from Tillicum Road to the McKenzie interchange.
The Province says these changes will remove a key pinch point that, upon completion, should help quicken the pace of traffic through that corridor.
“We know this area is only getting busier and it’s crucial we have a strong transportation network that people can count on to get to and from their work, homes and families between downtown and the Westshore,” said Rob Fleming, BC Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
“This project is another step toward improving our climate resiliency and making our infrastructure sustainable long into the future.”
According to the Province, this project will also be taking action to help protect the sensitive habitat in Colquitz Creek.
They say the new bridge’s deck has a drainage system with a rain and sediment catch basin that will be installed to filter roadway runoff. This should help mitigate harmful runoff, improving water quality in the creek.
The Province also says that invasive species will be removed and replaced with native plant species and vegetation.
For this endeavour the ministry says that they consulted with environmental groups for design.
“Widening the Colquitz River bridges will make for a more reliable, efficient commute for south Islanders while protecting local waterways and ecosystems,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and member of Parliament for North Vancouver, on behalf of Sean Fraser, federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.
“We will continue investing in public transit infrastructure that makes it easier for residents to navigate their communities and that contributes to a greener future.”
Construction is anticipated to begin in the summer and is expected to be completed in fall of next year.
The Province says that both Highway 1 and Burnside Road West will remain open throughout the construction period with lane closures taking place primarily at off-peak hours.
No changes are planned for bus service through construction.
In total, the project will cost around $35.5 million, with theBC government providing $23.5 million and the federal government contributing $12 million.
The project has been planned for a while as a part of the Province’s South Island Transportation Strategy.
