Tuesday, April 13, 2021 – The District is sharing this information from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure:
Work on Highway 14 and Otter Point Road in Sooke is wrapping up, making travel safer and easier for people driving, cycling, walking and using transit in the area.
“These are welcome improvements that people have been waiting for,” said Premier John Horgan, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca. “I’m glad to see that Sooke’s commercial centre is becoming even more vibrant and accessible – with cyclists, pedestrians and those using transit already benefiting from upgrades.”
A 1.7-kilometre section of Otter Point Road has been widened and resurfaced between the Sooke municipal boundary and Kemp Lake Road. The work included improving the road’s alignment, making sightlines better for drivers. Crews also upgraded this rural road to have 1.5-metre paved shoulders to accommodate cyclists.
On Highway 14 through Sooke’s town centre, the road was widened and resurfaced and 600 metres of new sidewalks were installed between Otter Point Road and Ed MacGregor Park. A new crosswalk near Ed MacGregor Park and the Gateway Trail is improving pedestrian safety. People are also benefiting from two newly built bus pull-outs that are making transit connections better while improving traffic flow.
“Better walking and cycling infrastructure in Sooke means more people can choose to leave the car at home when they go out,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “Sooke is a beautiful place to live and now people will benefit for years to come from these safety upgrades.”
Combined, both projects are valued at more than $5.7 million, including a $200,000 contribution from the District of Sooke.
Quick Facts:
- These projects are the last of the Highway 14 corridor improvements, announced in January 2018, to reach completion.
- The other projects included three new transit pull-outs and a queue-jump lane on Highway 14, a new two-lane bridge on Gillespie Road, Sooke River Road intersection upgrades, a slow-moving vehicle pull-out east of Muir Creek and a new Sombrio rest area.
- Another project underway in Sooke involves realigning and widening Highway 14 from Glinz Lake Road to Connie Road, and resurfacing Highway 14 between Otter Point Road and Woodhaven Road. This project is expected to be completed at the end of summer 2022.
Learn More:
More information on the Otter Point Road shoulder-widening project, Sooke town centre pedestrian enhancements and Highway 14 corridor improvements is available online: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/transportation-infrastructure/projects/highway-14
For travel restrictions and precautions due to COVID-19, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/travel/current
For the most up-to-date highway travel information, visit @DriveBC on Twitter or: https://drivebc.ca/