The Koksilah Bridge, on Highway 1 near Duncan, is receiving a seismic upgrade to improve the safety of the bridge for people travelling this section of Vancouver Island.

The seismic retrofit will involve supporting the bridge with reinforced concrete and steel rods, to strengthen the structure and bring it up to modern seismic standards.

These changes will enhance the safety and reliability of the bridge, and will be another step in rehabilitating this portion of the highway for the travelling public. The bridge, 3.5 kilometres south of Duncan, is an essential structure along Highway 1, and acts as a main thoroughfare for general and commercial traffic.

Speed limits through the construction site (approximately a one-kilometre area) will be reduced from 90 km/h to 60 km/h. Two-way traffic, for both northbound and southbound traffic, will be maintained. Southbound drivers accessing Cowichan Bay Road will detour via Bench Road for the duration of the project.

Work is expected to start soon, and will be completed by late fall 2018.

Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians are reminded to obey traffic control personnel, construction speed limits and all signs. Updates and the latest travel alerts will be available through DriveBC.ca.