Extensive construction work will be starting this summer on a $35.5-million project to widen and seismically retrofit the Colquitz River bridges, two busy crossings over Burnside Road on Highway 1 between the West Shore and downtown Victoria, B.C.
A bus lane will be added to each two-lane bridge and a number of environmental improvements are scheduled to be made to support the sensitive habitat in and around the Colquitz River.
Pomerleau Inc. has been awarded the construction contract for the work. The contractor plans to mobilize near the end of April and begin work on the southern bridge structure. That project is expected to be completed by the fall and work on the north bridge structure will begin.
Bridge piers will be reconstructed to support the extra bus lanes, and the deck of the crossings will be structurally reinforced.
“Widening and seismic retrofitting consists of extending the deck on both sides, with new concrete columns and concrete filled steel pipe piles,” a spokesperson for the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI) said in a statement to the Journal of Commerce. “This project also includes new deck overlays and approach slabs, and new parapets and steel bicycle railings.”
There is sensitive habitat in and around the Colquitz River so measures are being taken to ensure the upgrade and addition of bus lanes will not damage the environment.
“A new bridge deck drainage system will include oil grit separators to filter out contaminants, along with a rain garden and sediment catch basin will be installed to filter roadway run-off, improving water quality in the creek,” the MTI spokesperson said.
“The ministry worked with the region’s local governments and environmental groups to complete the designs.”
Restoration efforts will also include removing non-native and invasive plants and replacing them with native trees and vegetation. Any tree removal will result in an additional three trees being planted at project completion.
The project will be challenging as the bridges are a main thoroughfare for people who commute and rely on transit between the West Shore and downtown Victoria.
Highway 1 and Burnside Road West will remain open throughout the construction period, with lane closures limited to off-peak hours when required.
A cross-over detour will be created during works on the respective bridge structures. Given the existing traffic volume, lane closures will only occur during off-peak traffic periods. No changes are planned for bus service through construction.
The project is a part of the province’s South Island Transportation Strategy, which was released in 2020 and focuses on improving the sustainability and resiliency in southern Vancouver Island communities through highway, transit and active transportation improvements.
Each of the identified priorities in the plan supports the goal of ensuring sustainable options for a variety of travel modes, encouraging active transportation options and improving connections between communities.
One bus-on-shoulder lane will be added to each bridge, which will connect and extend the bus lanes in both directions from Tillicum Road to the McKenzie Interchange. The changes will reduce traffic congestion and improve service reliability, and also remove a key pinch point. It will also create a continuous transit corridor between downtown Victoria and the McKenzie Interchange.
The province is contributing $23.5 million to the cost of the project and the federal government is paying $12 million through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
Bruce Williams, chief executive officer of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, said transit is vital to the region and the improvements will make the bus more convenient for people who commute in and out of the downtown core.
“Supporting the long-term health of the Colquitz habitat also supports the residents and businesses in that neighbourhood who understand the value this natural environment provides to our region.”
B.C. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Rob Fleming shares the same sentiment.
“We know this area is only getting busier and it’s crucial we have a strong transportation network that people can count on to get to and from their work, homes and families between downtown and the Westshore,” he said. “This project is another step toward improving our climate resiliency and making our infrastructure sustainable long into the future.”
Federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister John Wilkinson said: “Widening the Colquitz River bridges will make for a more reliable, efficient commute for south Islanders while protecting local waterways and ecosystems. We will continue investing in public transit infrastructure that makes it easier for residents to navigate their communities and that contributes to a greener future.”
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