The eight-month closure of the Craigflower Bridge between View Royal and Saanich has been set to begin at 5 a.m. on Wednesday, a necessary move but one that will cause headaches for motorists in the ensuing months.
Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard said there is no getting around the fact that the closure will be felt by the public.
“It’s really going to be disruptive.”
At 80 years old, the timber-beam bridge across the Gorge waterway has more than had its day. A replacement just to the west will be built by Don Mann Excavating for $15.89 million, preserving a historical link between View Royal and Saanich.
During construction, the bridge will be closed to vehicles, but pedestrians and cyclists will still be accommodated, Leonard said.
What form that accommodation takes — whether people are initially escorted across the bridge, for example — has yet to be decided, he said.
Providing for pedestrians and cyclists beyond May is one of several issues View Royal and Saanich staff are discussing with the contractor.
“There’s everything from a temporary bridge to using part of the existing bridge,” Leonard said.
Getting students to area schools is another concern, he said, noting than Craigflower Elementary School and Shoreline Middle School are close to the bridge. Those travelling to Spectrum Community School could also be affected.
“We know it’s an issue for the schoolchildren and we need to resolve it,” Leonard said.
With traffic rerouted, signs will be erected on some streets designating them for local traffic only, Leonard said.
“There may be left-hand-turn bans at some places.”
The timing of some area traffic lights will be altered in an effort to keep vehicles moving, he said, adding that other adjustments will be made as the replacement project proceeds.
The project is expected to take about eight months to complete.
