Construction has started on the north Courtenay connector project that will provide a new route between Highway 19 and various community services, including the airport, ferry terminal and Comox Valley Hospital.

“I had the pleasure of announcing this project during the rollout of B.C. on the Move last summer, and I’m excited to see work get underway on one of our top priorities,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone. “This new route will ensure an efficient and reliable connection for residents, tourists and commercial drivers between Highway 19 and important destinations in the Comox Valley.”

The $15-million project includes the construction of a new, two-lane bridge across the Tsolum River, and approximately 700 metres of new two-lane road running west from the intersection of Headquarters Road and Dove Creek Road to the intersection of Piercy Road and Dove Creek Road, where Piercy Road continues on to Highway 19.

The initial work includes site preparation and the placement of preloading materials to compress soft soils. The ministry is undertaking this early work through day-labour contracting, which is the ministry’s long-standing method for hiring local workers and individual pieces of equipment directly through a fair and equitable process. In early 2017, a tender will be issued for the remaining construction work, including the new bridge. The new connector is anticipated to be finished in time for the opening of the new Comox Valley Hospital in late 2017.

“I am thrilled that this project has begun to take shape, and look forward to using the improved route for travel into and through the Comox Valley that will benefit all users including pedestrians, cyclists and the local farmers who need to move their equipment across the bridge,” said Comox Valley MLA Don McRae. 

Learn more:

North Courtenay Connector:  www.gov.bc.ca/northcourtenayconnector

Follow the work of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure online at: http://www.tranbc.ca