233 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Airport interchange has politics on its side

The airport turnoff isn't the most dangerous intersection around, doesn't even crack ICBC's list of top 20 crash sites.

But with two dozen collisions last year alone, the tricky intersection of McTavish Road and the Patricia Bay Highway is bad enough.

More to the point, it ticks all the right political boxes -- which is why a new highway interchange is likely to be announced when Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Gary Lunn, Saanich North MLA Murray Coell and Victoria Airport Authority reps hold a news conference at the North Saanich site today.

The airport authority has long been pushing the work and offered to pay $3 million toward what has been estimated as a $23-million project. "There's a safety problem there and there's a congestion problem," says CEO Richard Paquette.

More >>

[amor de cosmos]

i love seeing stuff like this:

Happily, this particular problem sits in a riding represented by a provincial cabinet minister, Coell, with a provincial election a mere five weeks away. It also sits in a constituency held by a federal cabinet minister, Lunn, at a time when the feds are shovelling money off the back of a truck.

The airport link also makes this an economic-development project backed by third-party money, making it an attractive candidate for infrastructure funding. It is also shovel-ready -- a suddenly overworked phrase that you had never heard until a few months ago, but which is now the "open sesame" that unlocks the doors to economic stimulus funds.

[G-Man]

Either way I am very happy about this. With a new runway and a proper gateway entrance to Victoria (no farm road t-intersections) we may see a large increase in direct flights as well as tremendous opportunity to get a few primary departures for cruise ships. This truly is a great for Victoria if all three things go through:

Mooring Dolphin Ogden Point
Runway Extension
McTavish Overpass

[Mike K.]

Indeed.

[jklymak]

I disagree that an overpass makes the city better in some way. First, its not a T-intersection: most people head south and there is a merge lane for doing that. Surely the turn at McTavish road is not blocking the hordes who may potentially use YYJ. Building an overpass just because the big boys have one sounds like we are nursing an inferiority complex.

On the other hand, the left onto McTavish could be fixed, probably with a simple light.

[amor de cosmos]

this mctavish overpass was mentioned in today's announcement:

April 7, 2009
Office of the Premier
Government of Canada

CANADA-BC INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERSHIP TO CREATE JOBS AND SUPPORT THE ECONOMY

WEST VANCOUVER – Urban and rural communities across British Columbia will benefit from a $290-million investment in key infrastructure projects, thanks to a partnership between the Government of Canada and the Province of B.C., announced Premier Gordon Campbell and Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway.

The infrastructure projects include provincial highway rehabilitation, public transit service improvements in the Greater Vancouver Regional District, projects in B.C.'s larger cities, as well as forest service roads. The Government of Canada is setting aside up to $116.6 million from the new Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The B.C. Government is contributing $134.7 million. Other funding partners are contributing the remaining $38.8 million.

“Every job counts, and this investment partnership will help create more than 1,800 direct jobs, as well as further stimulate the economy through improved movement and traffic flow,” said Premier Campbell. “We are pleased to continue to deliver critical infrastructure projects across BC by working in close partnership with the Federal Government and our other funding partners.”

“The Government of Canada’s number one priority is to stimulate our economy and create jobs for Canadians. Our Government’s investment will improve the capacity of B.C.’s highways and roads, inject additional capital into our economy, and keep people working during these tough economic times,” said Minister Day. “Working together, we can build the infrastructure that will allow Canadians and the economy to thrive now and in the future.”

http://www2.news.gov...0068-000741.htm

here it is in the backgrounder

Vancouver Island:

• North Saanich: Construction of McTavish Road Interchange: $24 million
• Ucluelet: Resurfacing of Highway 4 in Kennedy Lake area: $2 million
• Port Alberni: Resurfacing of Highway 4 west of Riverbend Bridge: $3.1 million
• Sooke: Resurfacing of Highway 14 (Metchosin to Sooke): $6 million
• Sayward: Resurfacing of Highway 19 near Sayward: $4.1 million

http://www2.news.gov...Attachment1.htm

[rchauhan]

I just heard on C-FAX that construction is going to begin in November 2009.

[amor de cosmos]

April 7, 2009
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Government of Canada

CANADA-BC PARTNERSHIP TO BUILD INTERCHANGE

NORTH SAANICH – Travellers and residents of the Capital Region will benefit from $24 million in joint federal, provincial and Victoria Airport Authority funding to construct an interchange at McTavish Road and Highway 17 near the Victoria Airport, announced today by MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands Gary Lunn and MLA for Saanich North and the Islands Murray Coell.

The project will be cost shared between the Province ($10.5 million), the federal government ($10.5 million) and the Victoria Airport Authority ($3 million). This project will improve road safety and transportation efficiency for motorists travelling along Highway 17. Construction is slated to begin in November 2009 and finish in March 2011.

“This project will provide a major upgrade to a key intersection in the area – McTavish Road is a vital access point for both airport and ferry travellers, as well as local residents,” said Lunn. “Improving safety and traffic flow here will benefit the entire region for years to come.”

“This government is committed to improving transportation infrastructure in rural and urban areas across the province,” said Coell. “As the Victoria Airport grows, so does the need for increased investments in traffic safety and this project recognizes that need and will fund needed safety measures at Hwy 17 and McTavish Road. We know that every job counts and this project is expected to create more than 150 jobs, at a time when the need for economic stimulus is greatest.”

"The Victoria Airport Authority is very pleased to join with our federal and provincial governments by helping to fund a project that will solve the safety and congestion problems at this critical intersection," said Richard Paquette, president and CEO of the Victoria Airport Authority.

This project is part of the $290-million infrastructure investment, recently announced by the Government of Canada and the Province of B.C.

The Provincial portion of the funding comes from an overall $14-billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.

The Federal portion of the funding comes from the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund to provide funding to provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure projects. Funding will be available for two years for projects that will begin during the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons. This initiative is structured to flow funding and get shovels in the ground quickly.

http://www2.news.gov...0054-000745.htm

[Mike K.]

Fantastic! This couldn't come sooner.

I disagree that an overpass makes the city better in some way. First, its not a T-intersection: most people head south and there is a merge lane for doing that. Surely the turn at McTavish road is not blocking the hordes who may potentially use YYJ. Building an overpass just because the big boys have one sounds like we are nursing an inferiority complex.

Have you been in the left-turn lane when several flights are due for arrival or departure at the same time? Vehicles can extend into the travel lane of the highway and if that's not a serious risk, I don't know what is. Furthermore, on the way back if taxis, buses and vehicles are returning from the airport the wait can be long. The current situation is unsafe and inefficient and needs to be addressed.

[UrbanRail]

Did they say what kind of interchange was going in?

[jklymak]

^^ That might be a good point. I used to commute up that way every day, but that was quite a few years ago so perhaps things have become worse. Certainly a long queue in the l-h turn lane is bad.

[gumgum]

Looks like the BC Liberals don't ignore us so much after all.

[amor de cosmos]

Did they say what kind of interchange was going in?

no renderings & no word on what kind of interchange afaik

[UrbanRail]

Looks like the BC Liberals don't ignore us so much after all.

Especially if the project takes place in a Liberal riding. (eyes rolling)

[LJ]

Wasn't there a rendering of it in the Pat Bay Highway improvement study?

[amor de cosmos]

Wasn't there a rendering of it in the Pat Bay Highway improvement study?

iirc there were 4 options in the pat bay hwy study; nobody has said which one, if any, they're going with afaik

[amor de cosmos]

Airport interchange gets green light
$24-million project starts this fall and is expected to finish in mid-2011
By Andrew A. Duffy, Victoria Times Colonist
April 8, 2009 5:48 AM


Concept illustration of what new airport interchange at McTavish Road and Patricia Bay Highway might look like. Many details - such as side roads and entry point for the transit park-and-ride - are still being worked out.
Photograph by: Victoria Airport Authority, aerial photo provided by Capital Regional District

Years of knocking on doors, buttonholing decision makers and putting together a $3-million contribution for the cause paid off yesterday for the Victoria Airport Authority when one of its priorities came to life.

The federal and provincial governments announced they have come up with $10.5 million each to fund a $24-million interchange to replace the intersection of McTavish Road and the Patricia Bay Highway that provides access to the airport.

“It’s a great deal, we have been working on this thing for a heck of a long time,” said Airport Authority CEO Richard Paquette. “All that’s left for us to do now is write a cheque for $3 million.”

The project is slated to start this fall, giving the provincial government time to consult with the municipalities affected, then design and plan the construction. The project is expected to be finished in the middle of 2011.

The province produced a rough idea of what the interchange could look like, though ministry staff noted it is a very preliminary drawing and does not address questions around access to side roads or what will happen with transit access. That will be part of the consultation process.

The interchange is one of the first projects to get funding under the federal government’s $12-billion, two-year stimulus package.

“This is one we have heard about from stakeholders across the board for a number of years,” said Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Gary Lunn. “The stars aligned and this is the right time to do it.”

Lunn said there were a number of reasons for giving this the green light, noting it will improve access to the airport, reduce highway congestion, improve safety and provide a shot in the arm to the local economy as construction will create 150 jobs.

Saanich North and the Islands MLA Murray Coell said it made sense to start with this interchange as it’s ready to go.

“There is no land acquisition needed and we have three municipal councils that all agree this is the priority on the peninsula,” said Coell. He added it does not mean the provincial government isn’t aware of safety issues at other intersections in the region like the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Admirals Road.

“We will be looking at them as well,” he said. “This is the first round of federal-provincial announcements, there will likely be some in June and September as well. But when you are looking at projects in a stimulus package, you want to get them out the door as quickly as you can.”

With a new interchange on its way, Paquette said the Airport Authority will now concentrate on extending the main runway.

The Airport Authority, which has spent $500,000 studying the project, is hoping to extend the main runway to 2,560 metres from 2,133. It would allow a fully-loaded aircraft to take off with enough fuel to get to England.

Earlier this year, Paquette said they hoped to have a financing deal in place with the federal and provincial governments by the end of May.

“We have some studies and some work still to do and we hope to have that wrapped up by the end of April,” he said.

“Then we’ll be knocking on some doors. At that point we will be able to present a comprehensive picture and proposal to the federal and provincial governments.”

The extension comes with a pricetag of $41.2-million, with the VAA proposing an even, three-way partnership to pay for it, and a construction start date of January 2010.

Lunn would not get drawn into committing federal money for the project yesterday, though he said he does support it.

“It’s another important one, there’s no question airports are a key economic driver of communities,” he said. “I’m very supportive and very keen on some of the expansion plans to allow longer flights out of Victoria.

“But I’m not going to speculate. Those decisions are made between both levels of government and there are extensive consultations that happen before they both sign off on it.”

The runway extension is seen as key for the next phase of growth for the airport. According to an economic impact study prepared for the Airport Authority, the extension's spinoff effects include 32,700 more international visitors annually, an annual $10-million injection into Victoria’s economy and the creation of 64 jobs.

http://www.timescolo...5306/story.html

[G-Man]

So I guess this really is the Canora Road Overpass. The transit exchange would fit quite well in the space between the Southbound Canora Road On-ramp and the Patbay. It could be structured so that the buses could continue in any direction. In addition that would be a good spot for future LRT station 20 years from now so the work would already have been done.

[jklymak]

I don't understand how McTavish will hook into this.

[G-Man]

IMO it will either end up being a dead end or will only be able to enter the South bound on ramp. People wanting to go North or East will have to drive to East Saanich Road and take the round about turn to get onto Canora. For the very few residents in this area it will be a minor detour and most likely make their road much more pleasant