A new, $5-million southbound off-ramp at the Leigh Road Interchange on Highway 1 will open this weekend, improving access to the City of Langford, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone announced today.

“This new off-ramp will ease traffic congestion in this busy corridor, making travel safer for all motorists,” said Stone. “Island communities identified this project as a priority as we developed B.C. on the Move, our new 10-year transportation plan, and we responded by partnering with the City of Langford to deliver this necessary transportation infrastructure.”

The Province and the City of Langford have each contributed up to $2.5 million to make this $5-million access improvement project possible.

“Langford is pleased to have partnered with the ministry on this project which is the last ramp to be completed at this interchange,” said Langford Mayor Stewart Young. “This will provide a better exit from the highway and remove that traffic from Goldstream Avenue, which is what our residents have been asking for.”

The new off ramp will open on Saturday, Nov. 28. Highway signage will alert motorists of the traffic-pattern change. On this same day, the exit from Highway 1 onto Goldstream Avenue will be closed permanently.

Further infrastructure improvements are being completed to improve traffic flow through Langford’s residential and recreational areas, which includes construction of a new southbound acceleration lane from the Westshore Parkway onto Highway 1. This work will be completed by February 2016.

Quick Facts:

• This project is part of the Province of B.C.’s 10-year transportation plan, B.C. on the Move, and will help improve traffic flow in the Capital Regional District while reducing collisions and improving pedestrian and cyclist safety.
• British Columbia’s transportation investment and commitments (together with federal and local partners) for Vancouver Island over the last two years is over $200 million.
• This investment includes large infrastructure projects such as the recently announced McKenzie interchange project as well as safety improvements to the Malahat and to the wharves at Victoria’s Belleville Ferry Terminal.

Learn more:

Large infrastructure projects for Vancouver Island:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/large-infrastructure-projects-for-vancouver-island