Sooke residents say 'out-of-control' traffic congestion on the rise
A two-kilometre stretch of Highway 14 between Langford and Sooke, B.C., has been under construction for nearly two years.
Construction on the stretch of highway was supposed to be completed this summer, but that deadline has now passed.
On Monday, CTV News asked the province how far behind the project was and if it was still on budget. As of Tuesday afternoon, the B.C. government still hadn’t responded to our questions.
David Evans, owner of the Stick In The Mud Coffee House and Specialty Roaster in Sooke, says the highway construction, coupled with increased interest in communities along the island's western coast, has led to high traffic volumes.
"Congestion is at a point that I have never seen before," he said Tuesday. "It is really bad."
Long-time Sooke resident Leo Kreeft, who was at the café Tuesday, called traffic levels "out of control and stupid."
It's part of a problem that's been brewing in the community for the past five years.
Sooke’s population is growing and cheaper real estate has meant many have made the choice to move to the small community.
Now a new problem has developed, stemming from an increase in commuters.
"Actually, I drove the road yesterday at around 4:30 in the afternoon and traffic was backed up probably 12 or 13 kilometres," said Evans. "All the way to the four lanes."
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS
Mike Menard, president of the Sooke Chamber of Commerce, says something more needs to be done before the problem gets worse.
"We’re having a hard time getting our people in and out of town because we only have one roadway that accommodates many communities up the line," he said.
He’s calling for a bypass to be built around Sooke.
"A bypass around the centre core of the city would facilitate a lot of the big trucks, a lot of the commuters through Sooke," said Menard.
Kreeft likes the idea but does have some concerns.
"Well a bypass is great, if they could do it sustainably," said the long-time Sooke resident. "You know, not to impede onto our forests and our waters."
Another idea being floated by the owner of the coffee house to relieve traffic congestion through Sooke is better transit.
"I think there are other solutions that should be looked at first," said Evans. "Maybe a dedicated transit lane, maybe express busses right to downtown Victoria, not just to Langford."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.
1 killed, 3 injured including toddler, after Hwy. 417 crash in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police are responding to a fatal collision involving two vehicles on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end on Tuesday morning.