Unfinished Spencer interchange north of Spencer Road at Highway 1 in Langford. Photo © VibrantVictoria.ca.

Caught between a government-mandated construction ban and a highly publicized environmental controversy, the City of Langford approved construction of the $35 million Spencer interchange (also referred to as the Bear Mountain interchange) to replace the Highway 1 and Spencer Road intersection and open access to new subdivisions along Langford’s northeast edge.  With $5 million granted by the provincial government and the remainder of the cost to be shared by Langford and a number of partners (Bear Mountain Master Partnership, Totangi Forestry, Goldstream Heights, Clara Kramer and Bear Mountain Parkway Estates), shovels hit the ground in early 2008.

The economy, however, had its own plans and later that year the once booming housing trade in the Capital Region began to slow.  By early 2009 developers grappled with a lack of housing sales and many real-estate projects were scaled back while others were halted indefinitely. Today, the interchange construction site sits silent. Access roads are blocked by large boulders and the intersection of Highway 1 and Spencer Road continues to stop highway traffic just a stones throw from a new traffic light-controlled intersection at Highway 1 and West Shore Parkway.  The City of Langford’s stance on the issue appears to suggest the once urgent and necessary project is urgent no more, with Langford’s acting clerk administrator, Jim Bowden, stating in the Goldstream Gazette that “there certainly isn’t a rush to get it complete. There is no hard schedule.”  While that may be true, taxpayers may be on the hook for a costly interchange with a future in doubt.

Zoe Blunt, a vocal opponent of the interchange project, was quoted on C-FAX 1070 radio reacting to questions surrounding repayment of loans,

“We have an agreement in writing with the City of Langford, with Len Barrie, all the land owners that will benefit from this interchange—they’re supposed to repay that. If that has changed, then the electors deserve to be informed, you know, there’s been no disclosure. If the situation has changed, and the developers aren’t going to pay us back, we need to know that.”

Blunt wrote on the VibrantVictoria.ca forum that she spoke to Langford’s now ex-city engineer, John Manson, and learned that Len Barrie, representative for the Bear Mountain Master Partnership, missed a $4.79 million interchange payment owed to the City of Langford.  When contacted about the statement, VibrantVictoria.ca also learned that Manson explained to Blunt that the repayment schedule is postponed until South Skirt Mountain real-estate developments proceed.  The problem with this postponement, according to the master development agreement, is a stipulation barring clearing or construction on the subdivision until the interchange is complete.   Meanwhile, the City of Langford has applied for infrastructure stimulus funding in hopes of securing new funds for the project.  Langford’s engineering department was contacted about the status of the loan and the master agreement stipulation.  A response was not received by press time.

A sign warns people to keep out of the construction site, while access to the interchange is blocked to vehicles. Photo © VibrantVictoria.ca.

Given the limited infrastructure dollars allotted for the Capital Region,VibrantVictoria.ca forum member “spanky123″ suggested that the $5 million provincial component of the funding makes a case for an Auditor General’s review.  “I think that the $5[million] provincial investment is precisely the act that should raise this project to the attention of the Auditor General. There are enough concerns being raised about the amount of the funds spent, the repayment terms (if any), and the status of the overall project that it is certainly in the interests of taxpayers as a whole to ensure that we are entering into these projects in a manner that ensures that we get good value for our money and protection should these projects fail to complete.”  A judicial review of the interchange project was filed in July 2009 and is expected to be heard by the BC Supreme Court within several months.

Across town in North Saanich, another major interchange project is working its way through the system and is expected to begin construction by this Fall.  The Victoria International Airport Authority secured funding for a $24 million interchange at McTavish Road and Highway 17, the main highway exit and entrance point leading to the Victoria International Airport.  A preliminary design has already been released and the project appears to be on time and financially secure.

To follow the VibrantVictoria.ca discussion on the Spencer interchange, please click here.

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