Victoria delays Bay Street bridge work until 2026 due to shipment delays

The partial closure of Victoria’s Bay Street bridge, which was set to begin on October 7th, has been postponed until later this year or early 2026.

The City of Victoria announced on Tuesday that the specialized construction materials needed for the upgrade will not arrive until November.

They had already sent postcards notifying residents of the closure when they discovered the delay.

The four-month upgrade, taking place on the Point Ellice Bridge, was meant to shut down the eastbound lane around the clock while keeping the westbound lane open. Access for pedestrians, cyclists, and wheelchair users was to remain throughout the work.

Related: Victoria’s Bay Street Bridge to close eastbound lane for up to four months

This project includes replacing the main deck joint, which is essential for the bridge to expand and contract with temperature changes, and improving the drainage system, which is 65 years old.

The deck joints, made in the US, are the main materials delayed in shipping.

According to the city, the Point Ellice Bridge is safe to use, but the upgrades are necessary to extend its lifespan for decades. The bridge supports about 20,000 vehicles daily, roughly divided between eastbound and westbound traffic, with the highest volumes during rush hours.

Past upgrades include seismic strengthening in 2001 and a $6.1 million project in 2019 that closed the eastbound lane for five months. During the 2019 work, engineers concluded that a full replacement of the expansion joints would eventually be needed.

The city states that drainage upgrades this time will also protect the structural steel and improve the effectiveness of the 2019 coating.