If Blanshard Street is part of your regular route through downtown Victoria, it might be a good time to start planning a detour—or at least pack some patience.
Starting this Monday, April 7th, the City of Victoria is warning of major traffic delays along Blanshard as the street enters the final stages of a years-long upgrade project.
The disruptions are expected to last four days, wrapping up on Wednesday, April 10th—weather permitting, of course.
The stretch of road is getting its final facelift is between Pandora Avenue and Fort Street.
While one lane will stay open in each direction, east-west traffic across Blanshard will be shut down at various points each day. Here’s what the closure schedule is looking like:
- April 7th: Fort, View and Yates Streets closed at Blanshard
- April 8th: Johnson Street and Pandora Avenue closed at Blanshard
- April 9th: Fort, View and Yates Streets closed at Blanshard (again)
- April 10th: Johnson Street and Pandora Avenue closed at Blanshard (again)
Most sidewalks and bike lanes are expected to stay open, but there may be temporary closures in some spots. Transit riders are being asked to double-check their routes on the BC Transit website in case of any detours or delays.
The work is all part of the city’s Blanshard Street Transportation Upgrades—a multi-year project that launched back in July 2024 and includes new protected bike lanes, dedicated left-turn lanes, intersection upgrades, improved lighting, and traffic signal changes.
According to the city, Blanshard is one of Victoria’s “highest collision corridors,” so the upgrades are aimed at making the area safer and more accessible for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.
Once this round of paving is done, the city says the project should be fully wrapped up within the next six weeks.
Until then? Maybe give yourself some extra time—or take a less chaotic route through town.
