Commuters in the West Shore can expect to see construction on new accessibility, transit and bike lanes along Island Highway this month.
The federal and B.C. governments and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission have poured resources into infrastructure upgrades along the Island Highway in View Royal and Colwood.
The joint investment of more than $13.2 million will support RapidBus transit improvements through West Shore beginning the week of June 24.
These improvement projects come in two phases.
Phase one includes dedicated transit and bike lanes on the Island Highway in both travel directions in View Royal and phase two will include queue jump lanes on the Island Highway in both travel directions at Wale Road in Colwood.
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Island Highway Transit Priority Upgrade Project is expected to be completed in winter 2024. (BC Transit)
While construction for phase one of the project on Island Highway will start this summer, the planning and design process for the Colwood section is still underway.
An update on the phase two section in Colwood will be made in the coming months.
Pedestrian Safety and Access to Transit
Upgrades on pedestrian safety and access to transit services will include:
- Widening sidewalks
- Adding accessible wheelchair ramp cuts at intersection crossings
- Intersection configuration improvements
- Crosswalk signage
- Road painting
- New street lighting and traffic signals
- Landscaping refurbishments of affected adjacent properties resulting from new installations
The entire construction is expected to be completed this winter.
Traffic Delays
During construction, some traffic impacts and delays can be expected, but local access to businesses in the area will be maintained and accessible pedestrian detours will be in place.
Electronic signage boards will be put in place to notify the travelling public.
Visit https://alerts.bctransit.com/ for any changes or delays to routes.
SEE ALSO: Sep. 27, 2023: Feds and B.C. contributing to $13.2M transit upgrades in West Shore
Harry Corro
