As part of B.C. on the Move, the Government of B.C.’s new 10-year transportation plan, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone announced priority actions for Vancouver Island to make targeted safety improvements, to improve access between provincial highways and to reduce congestion.

The ministry is committing to deliver key upgrades to reduce congestion and improve commuter mobility along Highway 1 between Langford and Victoria. During consultations for B.C. on the Move, the government heard that the “Colwood Crawl” is a major concern for commuters. Following these consultations, the ministry has committed to assess the potential for a future interchange on Highway 1 at McKenzie Avenue.

Preliminary engineering work is underway to look into the feasibility of building a future interchange to help traffic flow more efficiently. The B.C. government will be looking to partner with the federal government and local governments to help ease congestion and improve safety along this key corridor.

In addition, design work is underway to extend the northbound Douglas Street bus lane from Tolmie Avenue to Uptown Mall. This will add to the priority bus lane already under construction by the City of Victoria on Douglas Street from Hillside Avenue to Tolmie Avenue, which is nearing completion. This extension will shorten travel times for transit users, increase transit ridership and help to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.

Recognizing that cycling is important on Vancouver Island, the ministry plans to widen the shoulders on Highway 14 east of Sooke, to make this popular cycling route safer for cyclists. This work will be tendered this spring with completion anticipated by the end of the year.

The ministry also has plans to deliver key highway safety improvements in locations such as Highway 4 west of Port Alberni and the Malahat corridor on Highway 1. Specifically, planning and design is underway for median barrier and safety improvements on Highway 1 in the Malahat Village area, as well as alignment improvements and widening on Highway 4 near Kennedy Lake.

The ministry has also initiated a business case review to assess the costs and benefits of an alternate connection between the Island Highway and Port Alberni, to improve mobility for motorists.

B.C. on the Move is government’s new 10-year plan for the improvement of the province’s transportation network. It provides a comprehensive road map for transportation investments and strategic policy actions over the next decade. The actions prioritized in B.C. on the Move will enhance safety, grow the economy, maintain and replace aging infrastructure, and support trade for B.C.’s expanding resource sectors through Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway.

Over the next three years, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will invest up to $2.5 billion to improve British Columbia’s transportation network.

B.C. on the Move was developed incorporating feedback received from a wide-ranging public engagement, during which over 12,500 survey responses were received from British Columbians throughout the province, and the B.C. on the Move website was visited over 44,000 times.

Quotes:

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone -

“Vancouver Island’s population is growing, and our infrastructure has to keep pace with that growth. The ministry is taking action to improve safety and mobility, to address congestion and to connect communities. These are priorities which we heard about first hand from Island communities during the development of our new 10-year transportation plan, B.C. on the Move.”

Comox Valley MLA Don McRae -

“I value connecting communities on Vancouver Island, and I am pleased to see these upcoming transportation plans for some of our key highway corridors on the island. The Highway 1 and Highway 4 upgrades will improve safety for motorists, and the Highway 14 upgrades east of Sooke will make that corridor safer for cycling enthusiasts.”

Parksville-Qualicum MLA Michelle Stilwell -

“This government is committed to safer connections for motorists, transit users and cyclists, and these planned upgrades will go a long way towards helping people to get around this beautiful island.”

Learn More:

B.C. on the Move is available online at: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/transportationplan/

Media Contacts:

Government and Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241