The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has begun planning work to four-lane Highway 1 and to install a median barrier from the Leigh Road interchange to Goldstream Park, representing a further two kilometres of lane widening, announced Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone.

This commitment was made as the minister announced that the Leigh Road interchange construction is now finished.

“With the completion of the Highway 1 access improvements at Leigh Road and Goldstream Avenue, we are now moving along to have the final piece of the Trans-Canada Highway in this area four-laned and divided between Goldstream Park and Victoria,” Stone said. “These projects are improving safety for everyone who travels along this corridor and are part of more than $100 million that the Province has invested in Vancouver Island transportation in the last two years, with more to come.”

The ministry is undertaking planning work to four-lane and add median barriers to approximately two kilometres of Highway 1 from the Leigh Road interchange to the Goldstream Park boundary, which is located about 500 metres north of the West Shore Parkway intersection. Design work for this future project is anticipated to be complete in 2017. The ministry will develop a timeline for construction and finalize a cost estimate as part of the planning process.

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“These improvements to the Highway 1 corridor on southern Vancouver Island are key to keeping people and goods moving between island communities and making travel safer for commuters, residents, commercial drivers and tourists,” Comox Valley MLA Don McRae said.

The new southbound off-ramp at the Leigh Road interchange on Highway 1 with a southbound acceleration lane from the West Shore Parkway onto Highway 1 is safer, provides better traffic flow, and reduces traffic in residential and recreational areas. The interchange ramp opened to traffic on Nov. 28, 2015. The acceleration lane opened to traffic on Dec. 11, 2015. Remaining work on the new cul-de-sac at Goldstream Avenue, rock stabilization, and fencing wrapped up at the end of February. This $5-million access improvement project was cost-shared between the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and the City of Langford.

“We are pleased to partner with the Provincial Government on the opening of the Leigh Road southbound off-ramp, enabling residents and visitors better access to our community,” City of Langford Mayor Stewart Young said. “This government recognizes the importance of infrastructure and the positive economic opportunities created by this announcement.”