RapidBus Upgrades in View Royal Start in Two Weeks

VICTORIA – The infrastructure upgrades in View Royal along the Island Highway that will support RapidBus service through the West Shore will start the week of June 24. Don Mann Excavating Ltd. has been hired as the contractor that will oversee the construction that is expected to be completed this winter.

Last year, the Federal Government, the Province and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission announced a joint investment of more than $13.2 million to support transit improvements along the Island Highway in View Royal and Colwood. 

Phase 1 of the project scope includes dedicated transit and bike lanes on the Island Highway in both travel directions in View Royal and phase 2 will include queue jump lanes on the Island Highway in both travel directions at Wale Road in Colwood. While construction for phase 1 of the project will start this summer, the planning and design process for the Colwood section is still underway. An update on the phase 2 section in Colwood will be made in the coming months.

Important improvements to also increase pedestrian safety and access to transit services include:

  • Widening sidewalks
  • Adding accessible wheelchair ramp cuts at intersection crossings
  • Intersection configuration improvements
  • Crosswalk signage 
  • Road painting
  • New street lighting and traffic signals
  • Landscaping refurbishments of affected adjacent properties resulting from new installations

Affected utility infrastructure will also be relocated and adjusted to suit the new highway improvements.

During construction, some traffic impacts and delays can be expected, but local access to businesses in the area will be maintained and accessible pedestrian detours will be in place. Electronic signage boards will be put in place to notify the travelling public. As this is one of the corridors that BC Transit also uses, customers should check for customer alerts that will advise them of any changes or delays to routes. Visit https://alerts.bctransit.com/ to sign up to receive notifications.

These investments are the next step in supporting ongoing RapidBus improvements through the West Shore and support larger implementation goals for the program throughout the region. As we continue to increase service and invest in infrastructure the Blink RapidBus will only get better over time. 

Media contact:
BC Transit Communications
250-880-1303 | Media@bctransit.com