Visitors to Victoria and those who are taking a trip away from the island will soon notice that construction to the Inner Harbour’s Belleville Terminal is well underway.
Currently, phase one of the construction of a temporary terminal is in progress and will be throughout the remainder of the summer.
This temporary terminal will allow ferry service to continue unimpeded between Vancouver Island and Washington state through the renovations and modernization process.
During phase one of construction, modifications will also be made to the CPR Steamship Terminal building and the Blackball building to help aid the Canadian Border Services Agency, US Customs and Border Protection Services.
Once these endeavours are completed, phase two of the project will commence, but that isn’t projected to take place until 2025.
This will see the demolition of the Clipper terminal, the replacement of aging wharf facilities and construction of a new, modern pre-clearance terminal building.
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“The upgrade will bring the Belleville Terminal into compliance with the Canada-US Land, Rail, Marine and Air Transport Pre-clearance Agreement, and will streamline travel by allowing passengers to complete the customs and immigration process in Victoria prior to disembarking in the US,” said the Ministry of Transportation and INfrastructure in a statement.
The Province says this project is important because tourists coming into Victoria spend around $174 million every year, which generates $268 million in economic output and $155 million in provincial GDP.
The whole project, in its entirety, is expected to be completed in time for the 2028 tourist season.
Its total cost is estimated at being $304 million, with $41.6 million coming from federal funding.
The Province says they are working with the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt First Nations to identify opportunities to welcome visitors into Lekwungen territory and showcase the cultural and geographical significance of the project’s location.
