VICTORIA – A joint investment of $95 million from the federal and provincial governments is going to be used to provide faster pubic transit services for commuters in Souther Vancouver Island.
The 3.8 Kilometres of highway between the McKenzie and Colwood Interchanges will be widened to accomodate continuous northbound and southbound bus- on-shoulder lanes for the RapidBus service. RapidBus is designed to deliver consistent and frequent bus service, limiting stops to high passenger volume areas.
This work connects improvements being made to the Colquitz Bridges Widening project, including its dedicated bus lanes, and transit improvement work BC Transit is completing from the Six Mile area to View Royal, making one continuous route of easier travel for people between communities.
Funding for this project will include converting and widening the existing shoulders on Highway 1, as well as realignments to ramps and ramp-terminal intersections, installing roadside barriers, additional signage and warning flashers, and constructing a new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists crossing Craigflower Creek. Work is anticipated to start in early 2025 and be completed by late fall 2027. Traffic flow will be maintained during construction.
The federal government is investing $28,012,225 through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of British Columbia is contributing $66,987,775. Federal funding is conditional on fulfilling all requirements related to consultation with Indigenous groups.
Business Examiner Staff
