A new construction project on the Colquitz River bridges on the Trans-Canada Highway is set to start in the summer.
The Colquitz River bridges, which are the bridges that go over Burnside Road on the Trans-Canada Highway, will be widened to add a bus-on-shoulder lane and they will be seismically retrofitted.
Construction will begin in summer 2024 and is expected to be complete by fall 2025. The $35.5 million contract was awarded to Pomerleau Inc., with the provincial government contributing $23.5 million and the federal government contributing $12 million.
The highway and bridges will stay open during construction, and lane closures will be limited to off-peak hours.
Currently, on that stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway, heading towards the West Shore there is a bus lane that ends at the bridge, then immediately starts again after. Heading into Victoria there is a bus lane that starts right after the bridge.
The B.C. government says this project will remove a “key pinch point” in the transit corridor on the Trans-Canada Highway.
“We know this area is only getting busier and it’s crucial we have a strong transportation network that people can count on to get to and from their work, homes and families between downtown and the Westshore,” said Rob Fleming, B.C. minister of transportation and infrastructure.
“This project is another step toward improving our climate resiliency and making our infrastructure sustainable long into the future.”
In addition to the work on the bridge, the province says there will be environmental improvements to support habitat in and around Colquitz River, including a new bridge-deck drainage system to filter roadway runoff, removing non-native and invasive species to and replacing them with native trees and vegetation.
“Widening the Colquitz River bridges will make for a more reliable, efficient commute for south Islanders while protecting local waterways and ecosystems,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, federal minister of energy and natural resources.
“We will continue investing in public transit infrastructure that makes it easier for residents to navigate their communities and that contributes to a greener future.”
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Laura Brougham
