399 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

the lochside trail is pretty nice. ive biked it from downtown to sudney. It’s oarticularly nice at 7am on a warm summer sunday

[Nparker]

the lochside trail is pretty nice. ive biked it from downtown to sudney. It’s oarticularly nice at 7am on a warm summer sunday

Did you type this message with one hand while you were riding your bike on Lochside Trail? 

[Phoenix88]

More to the point, the Elk Lake Drive highway access could probably be closed off altogether; as all ELD does is parallel the highway anyway until Royal Oak where there's an interchange.  Then (and the greenspace preservers will howl at this idea!) extend a narrow version of Elk Lake Drive north alongside the highway to the rowing club so its direct highway access can be cut off as well.

 

Haliburton, however, should still have access in form of a half-interchange.  Sure it's not far in a straight line from there to the Royal Oak interchange but getting there by road from the ridge is a royal pain.  Also not having access there would play merry hell with school buses trying to take students living west of the highway to/from Claremont, as they'd have to go the long way around into Cordova Bay before going up the ridge on the east side.

 

An even better idea! Agreed with all your points.

[Nparker]

A long awaited project is set to get underway next month.

...Preliminary work is slated to begin on the Pat Bay Highway “flyover” overpass project at Keating Cross Road in July. Initial engineering work will be getting underway for the Highway 17 project, starting next week and lasting into August...The upcoming preliminary geotechnical work will assist in the preparations and design of the flyover project, with the government suggesting public consultation on the project will occur this fall.

 

https://www.cheknews...in-july-678174/

 

[Victoria Watcher]

A $44.3-million flyover ­project designed to eliminate a ­dangerous left-hand turn across the Patricia Bay Highway onto Keating Cross Road is likely to run past its ­original 2023 in-service date, though the province appears hesitant to say so.

 

With severe weather wreaking havoc on the mainland in recent months, requiring resources to repair highways and bridges, the overpass is likely to take longer than expected.

 

“I have a high degree of ­confidence it’s moving forward and will get underway and complete, but the perspective I hold is it’s been something like 46 years in the making so a few months here or there is pretty moot,” said Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor.

 

Windsor said it would come as no surprise that the project would be delayed given the amount of work and extra crews required to quickly ­reopen the Coquihalla Highway and other routes on the mainland after they were devastated by heavy rains, flooding and landslides.

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...ighways-5002938

[Cats4Hire]

a construction project's completion being delayed past the initial date? Say it isn't so!

[Mike K.]

From the province:

Transit users travelling through the peninsula communities will soon enjoy a faster commute as work begins on new lanes so buses can jump the queue at Mount Newton Cross Road and the Pat Bay Highway (Highway 17).

“Our government is committed to providing convenient and affordable public transit alternatives to travelling by car,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “These enhancements will make travel easier and faster for transit users and provide more safe, active transportation options for people walking and cycling along the Highway 17 corridor, benefiting businesses and connecting communities for years to come.”

These improvements will support enhancements to transit services along the Highway 17 corridor, including new stops that service Indigenous communities. The bus queue lanes will start before the intersection and will allow transit buses to bypass congestion. The lane will continue after the intersection at Highway 17, where buses will merge back into the traffic flow.

“Through CleanBC, we’re providing better clean transportation options for people by improving public transit and active transportation,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “This new project will mean faster, more convenient transit trips along an important travel corridor in the capital region, which will help reduce congestion and climate pollution.”

The project will also reconfigure the intersection to improve safety and sight lines by rebuilding traffic islands, as well as adding new signals, signage and road markings. Crews will make enhancements to existing pathways and add new sidewalks.

Some highway lane closures will be required during night work, enabling crews to undertake work without causing daytime disruptions to the extensive vehicle traffic on Highway 17. Existing cyclist and pedestrian facilities will remain open during construction.

The project is a priority identified in the South Island Transportation Strategy, an integrated approach to travel options by increasing the infrastructure needed to build connections and capacity, improve safety, and expand choices for sustainable travel. This project also supports government’s CleanBC Roadmap 2030 climate goals and Move.Commute.Connect, B.C.’s active transportation strategy.

The total project budget for this work is $7.6 million. Nanaimo-based Milestone Equipment Contracting Inc. will complete the installation of the new bus stops and transit queue jumpers near the intersection.

[Nparker]

Why do government press releases always make me feel sick to my stomach?

[Victoria Watcher]

Huge public relations staff create them by committee. Almost the opposite of how all other writing takes place. You see the result. On your stomach.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 28 January 2022 - 09:29 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

> > people walking and cycling along the Highway 17 corridor



Hey I love the Lochside trail. I’ve ridden a bike on it lots. But it’s hardly a busy route. Not many are waking from Cordova Bay to shop or dine or recreate or work in Saanichton.

[Nparker]

Many years ago I worked in a government communications office. Perhaps I am triggered by memories of the outrageous amount of taxpayer dollars these offices consume for so little benefit.

[Moderation]

Media/Government...... pros and cons of press releases .... Wikipedia

 

Using press release material can benefit media corporations because they help decrease costs and improve the amount of material a media firm can output in a certain amount of time. Due to the material being pre-packaged, press releases save journalists time, not only in writing a story, but also the time and money it would have taken to capture the news firsthand.^[2]

Although using a press release can thus save a news outlet time and money, it constrains the format and style of its content. In addition, press releases are favorable towards the organization that commissioned them, framing the topic according to its preferred criteria. In the digital age, consumers want to get their information instantly, bringing about pressure on the news media to output as much material as possible. This may cause news media companies to heavily rely on press releases to create stories.^[2]

[FogPub]

The Keating flyover is a good idea but better would be a full interchange at Island View Road with improvements to the existing connector to Keating.  That way both the Keating and East Saanich accesses to the Pat Bay Hwy could be shut off.

Edited by FogPub, 29 January 2022 - 02:34 AM.

[vortoozo]

East Saanich access is being closed as part of the project IIRC.

[Victoria Watcher]

Mt. Newton looks a bit constrained for space for a full interchange. It’s of course one thing to build on the present footprint, but to do so you need a reasonable bypass preferably right beside it, or a nearby detour that can handle the volume. It’s hard to see how that could be accomplished.

[Mike K.]

It could be like the Helmcken overpass. No need for cloverleafs there.

[Victoria Watcher]

It could be like the Helmcken overpass. No need for cloverleafs there.

 

The northbound (east side) ramps would take an awful lot of real estate. 

[Mike K.]

There are many examples of relatively tiny overpasses through the Bellingham area along I5. It’s crazy that we don’t build that way. $7.6 million is 1/3 of a pretty major interchange project.

[Mike K.]

Here we go. Completion planned for spring 2025 for the Keating Flyover:

Improved safety and traffic flow are en route for families and commuters as the Province commits $57.6 million to build the Highway 17 Keating Cross Overpass Project.

The $76.8-million project is being delivered in partnership with the Government of Canada and the District of Central Saanich. The Government of Canada will contribute as much as $16.7 million through the New Building Canada Fund’s National Regional Project stream.

“Investments in road infrastructure ensure Canadians have access to alternative and safe options for commuting,” said Harjit S. Sajjan, federal Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, on behalf of Dominic LeBlanc, federal Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities. “Adding a flyover overpass in Saanich will create jobs, reduce travel time and build stronger communities. Our government is proud to help support a strong regional economy.”

The project will replace the northbound left turn onto Keating Cross Road with a flyover overpass, eliminating the need to turn across busy highway traffic and reducing congestion. This improves access for neighbourhoods and businesses in the Keating area, including the Keating Business Park, which supports more than 3,000 jobs. It will also allow people to spend less time in traffic and more time with their families.

“This project will help make Highway 17 safer for everyone who uses it and will help decrease congestion and improve connectivity for residents and local businesses,” said Rob Fleming, B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “The Patricia Bay Highway plays a critical role in connecting communities on the south Island to the services and goods they depend on, and I’m excited for work to get underway.”

Project features include:

installation of bus-on-shoulder facilities that support future plans for bus rapid transit on the Patricia Bay Highway;
realignment of the southbound on-ramp to Victoria to make it safer for drivers getting onto the highway;
widening of Keating Cross Road and construction of a new sidewalk on one side to support active transportation, such as biking or walking; and
closures on Highway 17 at East Saanich Road, Martindale Road and Danica Place to improve safety for all travellers.
The final design is nearing completion and the project tender is expected to be posted by fall. Construction is expected to be complete by spring 2025.

“Council appreciates the recent provincial investments in Central Saanich, and we look forward to celebrating the elimination of the left turn across the highway,” said Ryan Windsor, mayor, Central Saanich. “We are immensely pleased that this safety improvement is around the corner for residents, businesses and peninsula visitors.”

Improving the Highway 17 corridor is a priority identified in the South Island Transportation Strategy, an integrated approach to travel choices by increasing the infrastructure needed to build connections and capacity and improve safety and choices for sustainable travel.

[Victoria Watcher]

realignment of the southbound on-ramp to Victoria to make it safer for drivers getting onto the highway;



The only thing unsafe about it is clowns that don’t start speeding up to merge until they see the highway. I start speeding up at about the Coop grocery store on Keating.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 03 June 2022 - 11:21 AM.