Construction crews are making progress on improvements to Highway 14 near Sooke, British Columbia, which will contribute to safer and easier travel for commuters.
“Highway 14 connects people to school, work and public transit, as well as important attractions and services on Vancouver Island,” said Catherine McKenna, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “This ongoing work will improve road safety to make it easier for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to get around, whether they’re commuting or staying active.”
As part of this project, 11 kilometres of Highway 14 are being resurfaced west of Sooke between Otter Point Road and Woodhaven Road, with paved shoulders added where none currently exist.
The contract was awarded to Hazelwood Construction from Nanaimo. Construction began in September 2020 and is expected to be complete in summer 2022.
“As the only direct connection from the West Shore to Sooke and communities beyond, thousands of people rely on Highway 14 every day,” said Premier John Horgan, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca. “This investment in Highway 14 improvements allows us to travel safely, contributes to accessible public transit and supports active transportation in the region.”
The contract for the Glinz Lake Road to Connie Road realignment and widening was awarded to Windley Contracting Ltd., also from Nanaimo. Crews will realign this section of Highway 14 and widen it to four lanes, making it safer and easier for drivers to navigate. Construction began in November 2020, with completion expected at the end of summer 2022.
“These improvements to Highway 14 will shorten commute times, improve safety and add better connections to public transit,” said Rob Fleming, B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. “As a growing region that relies on a safe, reliable highway for access, investments such as this will help make Sooke and its surrounding communities more accessible, now and for future generations.”
The improvements will also include:
- For the Glinz Lake Road to Connie Road project, a median barrier will be installed along the highway between Manzer Road and the Neil Creek Bridge located to the east of Connie Road.
- A new park and ride will be built at Highway 14 and Gillespie Road to make public transit through this corridor more efficient and convenient. It includes an interchange with a new connection to Connie Road, 50 parking stalls and new eastbound and westbound bus bays. The new Gillespie Road park and ride is within easy cycling distance of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail.
- A new pedestrian underpass will be built east of the new intersection at Glinz Lake Road and Polymede Place to make crossing Highway 14 safer and support active transportation in the region.
- A new road between Manzer Road and Gillespie Road and between Connie Road and Gillespie Road will provide a low-speed and low-traffic volume connection between local sideroads for local residents.
These projects represent a total government investment of $85.7 million, with the Government of Canada contributing up to $30.2 million through the New Building Canada Fund’s Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component-National and Regional Projects and the provincial government providing the balance of $55.5 million.
