399 replies to this topic

[Gary H]

 

... as well as safety improvements at Cordova Bay Road that, once complete, will allow only right-in, right-out from this road.

 

...

 

I've driven out to Mattick's Farm a couple of times with visiting relatives and took the north bound Cordova Bay Rd. turnoff.  I also eyed the left turn configuration for coming back and thought it looked a little sketchy so decided to drive the extra couple of minutes to Sayward - easy and stress-free.  IMO, it's a good change.

Edited by Gary H, 10 August 2016 - 06:04 PM.

[Mike K.]

The Ministry of Transportation has released a ride-along for the highway from 1966.

https://www.tranbc.c...sidney-in-1966/

[Coreyburger]

The Ministry of Transportation has released a ride-along for the highway from 1966.

https://www.tranbc.c...sidney-in-1966/

 

One thing I noted: I am pretty sure the Carey Rd bridge over the Lochside was then the bridge for Hwy 17

[shoeflack]

One thing I noted: I am pretty sure the Carey Rd bridge over the Lochside was then the bridge for Hwy 17

 

The marking on the bridge indicates it was built in 1955, so certainly makes sense (along with the identical style of the bridge).

[FogPub]

One thing I noted: I am pretty sure the Carey Rd bridge over the Lochside was then the bridge for Hwy 17

It was.  Going south on 17 then took you down a bit of a hill to a T-junction with Hwy 1, pretty much below where the bike bridge is now.

 

This is why Douglas became Victoria's "Main Street" - both major highways fed into it from Town and Country (now Uptown) on in.

[Mike K.]

A new flyover/overpass has been announced for the 17:
 

Investing in modern transportation infrastructure is critical to connecting communities, helping businesses compete, and creating a strong economy and middle class.

 

Jonathan Wilkinson, federal Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, on behalf of François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; and Lisa Beare, British Columbia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, on behalf of Claire Trevena, B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, have announced funding for a project to improve the Highway 17 corridor and create a new overpass at Keating Cross Road in Central Saanich.

 

The project involves a new flyover overpass from the Patricia Bay Highway (Highway 17) northbound to Keating Cross Road westbound, eliminating the left turn across highway traffic onto Keating Cross Road. The project will also include a realigned southbound on-ramp to Victoria.

 

These upgrades will allow vehicles to travel this busy corridor more safely and efficiently, helping keep local businesses competitive and promote regional economic growth.

 

The Government of Canada is investing more than $16 million in this project through the New Building Canada Fund, Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component—National and Regional Projects, while the District of Central Saanich is contributing $2.5 million. The provincial government’s contribution for the project is pending Treasury Board approval.

 

Quotes:

 

Jonathan Wilkinson, federal Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, on behalf of François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities – “These improvements to Highway 17 will greatly alleviate the chronic congestion issues people experience daily on this busy regional transportation route. Creating more vehicle capacity and smoother traffic flow will allow people to spend less time on the road and more time at their destinations, supporting economic activity and a higher quality of life.”

 

Lisa Beare, B.C.’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, on behalf of Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure – “A new overpass will greatly improve safety at this busy intersection and will help prevent collisions. Our government looks forward to working with our federal partners and the District of Central Saanich as we launch the first phase of this important project.”

 

Quick Facts:

Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.

More than $10.1 billion of this funding is supporting trade and transportation projects, including $5 billion available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

[Nparker]

A project only 40 years in the making.

[shoeflack]

Huge news. Here's hoping they eliminate the left turn onto East Saanich immediately after the Keating exit at the same time.

[shoeflack]

Here's the drawing of this project from the Highway 17 Planning Study document. You can't really do much different than this, so I imagine this is the design they will use. Note that this is now the second project from that study that will be completed (first was eliminating access to Cordova Bay Road from Pat Bay southbound and vice versa).

 

[Nparker]

...Here's hoping they eliminate the left turn onto East Saanich immediately after the Keating exit at the same time.

The Tanner, northbound left turn should also be eliminated.

[Mike K.]

What’s shocking is the cost of this. $18.5 million already identified, and the provincial component is forthcoming.

Makes the $85 million McKenzie project look like a screaming deal.

[shoeflack]

The Tanner, northbound left turn should also be eliminated.

 

Absolutely agree. There's also the Old East intersection as well...far too many turn across traffic locations between Sayward and Island View.

 

I suspect though that Tanner will remain as is. At least that one has a bit better sight lines being on a straightaway. Curious if BC Transit will realign the 75 to Keating now that it'll be a bit safer route than Tanner. That might help spell the death of the Tanner intersection.

[rjag]

Its probably just a coincidence that the CS Mayor Windsor is running for a Federal Liberal seat against a high profile incumbent.

 

I'm glad to see something finally happening here, I drove that route for 30 years 3-4x a day. Its very dangerous especially for tourists going to Butcharts. Everyone was calling for this to happen.

 

In fact one of the original design concepts was to close the Keating on ramp as well as East Saanich Rd and run a new 4 lane road at 45 degrees from the corner of Veyaness and Keating right through to Island View and make that a major flyover access/egress for the business park.

 

I stored the original design models for this as well as the Beacon Interchange that was supposed to have been built in the early 90's....probably at 25% of what it would cost today

 

Heres a link to the Audit report for the V.I.Highway Project where it discusses timelines and outcomes of why some stuff proceeded and others didnt

 

 https://www.bcaudito...-and-design.pdf

 

Page 44-46 show the timelines etc

[rjag]

Absolutely agree. There's also the Old East intersection as well...far too many turn across traffic locations between Sayward and Island View.

 

I suspect though that Tanner will remain as is. At least that one has a bit better sight lines being on a straightaway. Curious if BC Transit will realign the 75 to Keating now that it'll be a bit safer route than Tanner. That might help spell the death of the Tanner intersection.

 

Yup Tanner should be closed to Northbound highway turning onto it. It should be a simple southbound highway entry point

[Cats4Hire]

Absolutely agree. There's also the Old East intersection as well...far too many turn across traffic locations between Sayward and Island View.

I suspect though that Tanner will remain as is. At least that one has a bit better sight lines being on a straightaway. Curious if BC Transit will realign the 75 to Keating now that it'll be a bit safer route than Tanner. That might help spell the death of the Tanner intersection.

Unless Tanner is closed off I doubt it. There's no other bus service for that neighborhood and the furthest south is a 20 minute walk according to Google Maps. Maybe if they add a little commuter bus around there or something.

[Nparker]

...Maybe if they add a little commuter bus around there or something.

That's how the Tanner Ridge area should be serviced.

[FogPub]

All those little accesses along there - private driveways, minor roads, business entrances - need to be closed off somehow.  Full interchange at Sayward, full interchange at Island View, and no other access between them whatsoever except the Keating flyover.

 

It'd be a royal pain to realign the private driveways to access another road, and for a couple of businesses along there, to be sure...but it still needs doing.

[shoeflack]

This project has a significant contribution from Central Saanich, to the tune of about 10% of their annual operating budget. Curious if they have been given any reassurance by businesses (i.e. Costco) as to development as a result of this investment.

[AllseeingEye]

Like everything else here this is 30 years overdue, but.....finally. Someone saw the light - and acted, thankfully, without resorting to the usual Victoria Solution, i.e. to "study" the matter further. Should've happened decades ago but thank gawd actual shovels will hit the ground.

 

Was (even a rough) time-frame to start part of the announcement, or is that being overly optimistic?

[Sparky]

I heard the shovels will hit the ground Spring 2021