251 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

"There is no immediate plan to replace or supplement Highway 14" with a secondary route.

[Nparker]

If significant Highway 14 improvements did not happen while John Horgan was premier, the likelihood of David Eby's NDP funding this are probably infinitesimal. His party is likely to win the majority of ridings in the CRD at the next election anyway, so why would they bother with this expenditure?

[lanforod]

Education programs? Maybe recertification of drivers licenses would help but that’s pricey.

[Mike K.]

The clear message to the district, I think, was that they need to start borrowing money for major road works that the Province will then help fund.

That’s the right way to do it. Then get senior levels of government to help pay into those plans/infrastructure, like Langford did it, in exchange for faster approvals and a streamlined process.

It sounds to me like there is a need for $15 to $20 million in internal road infrastructure work.

The major problem is the road Sooke has identified as the town centre bypass, travels past a school zone (Phillips to Church along Throup, for those who want to check it out) right along the Journey Middle and Poirier Elementary main frontage (onto Throup). So until 5PM that’ll be a 30km/h stretch with lots of traffic coming and going to the schools from 2-4.

[Mike K.]

Watching the video I got the sense the MoT has no idea what’s going on. They approached the emergency secondary route issue somewhat jokingly, and remarked how it was great (but then corrected themselves) to have a practice run with Highway 4’s shutdown over the summer.

That was terrible for residents. If something similar were to happen in Sooke there is no plan in place to get emergency services into the town, aside from a four hour logging road trip if they open the logging roads, or the lengthy Circle Route that is squeezed to one lane in a couple of spots.

[lanforod]

So you're saying we can isolate you with one strategic accident?

[Nparker]

Might have to take out a cell tower as well.

[Mike K.]

I have a helicopter.

[Nparker]

I have a helicopter.

Can one really call this a helicopter?

[lanforod]

I have a helicopter.

 

Then you should be choppering Mrs. Mike K. over to her appointments and work, and not complaining about all the plebs stuck in traffic.

[Mike K.]

I'm too busy complaining to be choppering anybody around, though.

[Mike K.]

A crash snarled the highway today for miles on either side, at around the noon hour through to 2PM. It’s just starting to move again now. The crash was in the Sunny Shores area and traffic was being diverted along a side road, one of the few instances where an immediate parallel detour is available.

[Mike K.]

Curiously, there is no mention in the Sooke News Mirror of the MoT presentation to council.

[Victoria Watcher]

Commuters in Sooke frustrated by traffic congestion are signing a petition calling for immediate action on “gridlock” in the community.

 

The petition, created last week by Sooke resident Susan Jones, already has 1,000 signatures, and Jones hopes to get more than twice that number.

 

She said she expects many people will sign today, when traffic is typically heavy with weekend travellers.

 

“People are going to be choked sitting in even more-choked traffic,” Jones said.

 

The only way in and out of Sooke is Highway 14, also known as Sooke Road, with bottlenecks such as the Sooke River bridge, where the number of lanes drops to two from four.

The afternoon commute has become a particular problem.

 

The District of Sooke said that discussions with the Ministry of Transportation about the congestion are ongoing, but issues remain despite $87 million for realignment and safety work on Sooke Road that began in 2021.

 

Sooke has approached the ministry about additional safety improvements to Sooke Road in the Saseenos area.

 

The district said a carpool group has been formed, and while carpooling doesn’t work for everyone, it’s something commuters could consider doing at least a few times a month.

 

Sooke Mayor Maja Tait said the idea of an alternate route to Sooke Road has been raised again in advance of this fall’s provincial election.

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...etition-9082738

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 June 2024 - 05:33 AM.

[Mike K.]

The Sooke River Bridge does not suddenly drop from 4 to 2 lanes. The road becomes two lanes 6km back.

The congestion is bad now, because a bypass through the town centre has closed to repair a damaged road.

Why that’s not mentioned in the article clip above is so curious, when that’s making the traffic situation so much worse.

Also, Susan Jones is a former VVer

[Nparker]

Susan Jones is VHF? 😜

[Mike K.]

Could be!

[Matt R.]

Probably my old neighbour at Parkside!

[LJ]

Could be!

Did you kick her off the forum, Mike?

[Mike K.]

Some people peter out. Or were around for a specific issue or cause, then move on.