The McKenzie interchange project is entering its next phase, with excavators working through the evening on the “big dig.”
Drivers passing through the bottleneck, where the Trans-Canada Highway meets McKenzie Avenue and Admirals Road, will likely notice heaps of soil and debris excavated to make way for future lanes of the highway, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said.
Temporary northbound and southbound lanes have been built to divert traffic around the work.
The highway going through the interchange will ultimately be up to seven metres lower than it is now and a bridge will connect Admirals and McKenzie at their current grade.
Construction crews have started driving piles in the area where the future centre pier of the underpass will be located, the ministry said.
The next major step in the project includes erecting girders for the highway underpass. Sound walls will also be installed along the Trans-Canada Highway and Portage Road to reduce the traffic noise for adjacent residents.
“This is a tremendously important project for the people of southern Vancouver Island and everyone that drives through this project on a daily basis is looking forward to its completion,” the ministry said in a statement.
The new interchange is expected to shave 20 minutes off drivers’ commutes in each direction.
“We continue to work with our contractor to get the new overpass open as quickly as possible, as we know the public is looking forward to seeing the time-saving benefits from this project.”
The $85-million interchange project began in late 2016 and is due to be open to traffic this summer. Work will continue for several months after that.
