People in the area of Keating Cross Road and the Pat Bay Highway will see workers on site through July and August as initial engineering work gets underway on the Highway 17/Keating Cross Road Flyover Project.

Field crews will be on site doing geotechnical investigations. This involves drilling holes and analyzing soil samples to better understand subsurface ground conditions. Environmental management and archeological teams will also be on site to do assessments. 

The geotechnical work may result in lane closures and minor delays on Keating Cross Road and Highway 17. Drivers are asked to use caution and obey the instruction of traffic control personnel.

This work will help the ministry develop the project’s design. Public consultation is expected to get underway this fall.

The project involves a new “flyover” overpass from the Pat Bay Highway northbound to Keating Cross Road westbound, eliminating the left turn across highway traffic onto Keating Cross Road. The project will also include a realigned southbound on-ramp to the Pat Bay Highway southbound.

These upgrades will allow vehicles to travel this busy corridor more safely and efficiently, helping keep local businesses competitive and promote regional economic growth.

The Government of Canada has committed more than $16.7 million to this project through the New Building Canada Fund, Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component—National and Regional Projects. The District of Central Saanich will contribute $2.5 million. The provincial government will finalize its investment decision for the project following the business case review.