The B.C. government has announced $10-million in immediate safety upgrades for a notoriously dangerous route to Sooke.
Highway 14, also known as Sooke Road, will get three additional bus pullouts, safety signs and a new two-lane bridge on Gillespie Road, the province said Friday.
The upgrades will also see a new rest area constructed at the Sombrio Beach lookout point, the addition of a slow-moving vehicle pullout east of Muir Creek as well as a bus queue jump lane at Jacklin Road.
B.C. Premier John Horgan, who also serves as MLA for the Langford-Juan De Fuca region, says construction on the improvements will begin immediately.
"For too long, people on the West Shore have been frustrated by mounting congestion and traffic bottlenecks," Horgan said in a statement. "Highway 14 is an essential connection for people on southern Vancouver Island, and we're making travel safer and less stressful so people can spend more time with their families, instead of sitting in traffic."
This is phase 1 of the project. John Horgan speaking of personal experiences including being rear-ended on the Highway.
— Chandler Grieve (@CTVNewsChandler) January 19, 2018
Premier adds during the press conference that getting the E and N line up and running is a priority.
— Chandler Grieve (@CTVNewsChandler) January 19, 2018
Horgan says it's only the first phase of a number of safety, transit and congestion improvements for the route.
Design work on an intersection upgrade at Sooke River Road will also get underway immediately.
The next phase of the project will be announced this year, and will be based on community feedback with a focus on intersection upgrades, passing lanes, improving highway alignment and widening shoulders for cyclists, according to the province.
