A combined investment of C$95 million (US$68.8 million) between the governments of Canada and British Columbia will help fund highway improvements to provide faster public transit services for people commuting in southern Vancouver Island.
Funding will widen approximately 3.8 kilometers (2.4 miles) of the highway between the McKenzie and Colwood Interchanges to accommodate continuous northbound and southbound bus- on-shoulder lanes. The lanes will allow TransLink RapidBus service to use the shoulders along designated areas of the highway to travel.
The work connects improvements being made to the Colquitz Bridges Widening project, including its dedicated bus lanes, and transit improvement work BC Transit is completing from the Six Mile area to View Royal, B.C., making one continuous route of easier travel for people between communities.
Funding for this project will include converting and widening the existing shoulders on Highway 1, as well as realignments to ramps and ramp-terminal intersections, installing roadside barriers, additional signage and warning flashers and constructing a new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists crossing Craigflower Creek. Work is anticipated to start in early 2025 and be completed by late fall 2027. Traffic flow will be maintained during construction.
The project aligns with the South Island Transportation Strategy's goal to construct more bus lanes along highways and other inter-regional service corridors and to develop the Rapid Transit Corridor along Highway 1.
"Investments in public transit are about more than just getting Canadians to their destinations -- they make busing a more realistic and desirable alternative to driving, shortening commute times and helping keep our air clean. Widening Highway 1 will not only provide faster transit services to South Islanders by advancing RapidBus implementation in the area but will ultimately help get more cars off the road,” said Harjit S. Sajjan, minister of emergency preparedness and minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada.
"We know transit is a vital resource for our West Shore communities and funding these new dedicated lanes will make taking the bus an even easier choice, so people can count on getting to their homes and work as quickly as possible. It means everyone will have an easier time travelling on our highways,” said British Columbia Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming.
The government of Canada is investing C$28 million (US$20.3 million) through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The government of British Columbia is contributing C$67 million (US$48.5 million).
Federal funding is conditional on fulfilling all requirements related to consultation with Indigenous groups.
