Construction update: Pat Bay Highway Bus Queue Lanes

Construction update: September 7, 2022

Night paving at the intersection of Highway 17 and Mt Newton Crossroad project will take place on September 8-16, between 7pm and 6am. This work will consist of periodic lane closures on the highway (both directions of travel will be maintained at all times), and possible Single Lane Alternating traffic configurations on Mt Newton Crossroad.  Traffic control personnel will be on site to assist motorists through the work zone. 

Construction update: August 24, 2022

Night paving at the intersection of Highway 17 and Mt Newton Crossroad project will take place on August 29th / 30th, between 7pm and 6am. This work will consist of periodic lane closures on the highway (both directions of travel will be maintained at all times), and possible Single Lane Alternating traffic configurations on Mt Newton Crossroad.  Traffic control personnel will be on site to assist motorists through the work zone. 

Construction update: August 10, 2022

As part of the switch over to new traffic signals at the intersection of Highway 17 and Mt Newton Cross Road, there will be overnight activity for the next week. The light’s pre-emption system will experience intermittent outages, currently scheduled for August 10 and August 18, 2022. Outage durations will be kept to the minimum possible during this period, and Traffic Control Personnel will be on site to assist with traffic flows during the outage periods and to get emergency services through.

Construction update: March 3, 2022

Construction on this project is expected to impact traffic (Mt. Newton X Rd and Hwy 17) starting on March 7, 2022. 

Please use alternate routes to avoid delay. 


BACKGROUND
The Province of BC has announced new bus queue lanes being added to the Pat Bay highway at the Mt Newton Cross Rd intersection to improve bus transit times:

Transit users travelling through the peninsula communities will soon enjoy a faster commute as work begins on new lanes so buses can jump the queue at Mount Newton Cross Road and the Pat Bay Highway (Highway 17).

“Our government is committed to providing convenient and affordable public transit alternatives to travelling by car,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “These enhancements will make travel easier and faster for transit users and provide more safe, active transportation options for people walking and cycling along the Highway 17 corridor, benefiting businesses and connecting communities for years to come.”

These improvements will support enhancements to transit services along the Highway 17 corridor, including new stops that service Indigenous communities. The bus queue lanes will start before the intersection and will allow transit buses to bypass congestion. The lane will continue after the intersection at Highway 17, where buses will merge back into the traffic flow.

“Through CleanBC, we’re providing better clean transportation options for people by improving public transit and active transportation,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “This new project will mean faster, more convenient transit trips along an important travel corridor in the capital region, which will help reduce congestion and climate pollution.”

The project will also reconfigure the intersection to improve safety and sight lines by rebuilding traffic islands, as well as adding new signals, signage and road markings. Crews will make enhancements to existing pathways and add new sidewalks.

Some highway lane closures will be required during night work, enabling crews to undertake work without causing daytime disruptions to the extensive vehicle traffic on Highway 17. Existing cyclist and pedestrian facilities will remain open during construction.

The project is a priority identified in the South Island Transportation Strategy, an integrated approach to travel options by increasing the infrastructure needed to build connections and capacity, improve safety, and expand choices for sustainable travel. This project also supports government’s CleanBC Roadmap 2030 climate goals and Move.Commute.Connect, B.C.’s active transportation strategy.

The total project budget for this work is $7.6 million. Nanaimo-based Milestone Equipment Contracting Inc. will complete the installation of the new bus stops and transit queue jumpers near the intersection.

Learn More:

Peninsula Transit Plan

Project Newlsetter 

Central Saanich's Active Transportation Plan

South Island Transportation Strategy: https://gov.bc.ca/southislandtransportationstrategy

CleanBC, B.C.’s climate action strategy: https://cleanbc.gov.bc.ca/

B.C.’s active transportation strategy, Move.Commute.Connect: https://cleanbc.gov.bc.ca/active/