A major project to improve Highway 1’s safety between Shawnigan Lake Road and Aspen Road will soon begin, and the province is warning motorists to be prepared for 20-minute delays.
One northbound lane will be closed over approximately five kilometres for the duration of the project which isn’t expected to be completed until next summer in 2018.
$34 million was committed last year for the Malahat safety improvements. $20,000,000 is coming from the province and the remainder from the federal government.
Intermittent traffic stoppages will be required for tree clearing, blasting and other activities but will occur outside peak periods (6 a.m. – 9 a.m. southbound and 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. northbound).
Certain tasks will also be done at night when traffic volumes are lowest.
Construction zone speed limits are in effect 24/7 until the project is finished.
The safety improvements include:
- Expanding five kilometres of highway to four lanes with wider shoulders
- Installing three kilometres of median barrier
- Providing improved and safer highway access through a frontage and backage road system with a new turnaround facility, and improved overhead lighting at intersections to help ensure safer access on and off the highway.
