The closure of a section of Shelbourne Street for construction around Pear Street has been extended for two weeks.
The work, which began June 12, is part of the second phase of a multi-year, $23-million upgrade of Shelbourne from North Dairy Road to Torquay Drive to improve the road surface and underground infrastructure.
The area around Pear will continue to be closed until about July 21 while contractor Don Mann Excavating deals with underground issues including a culvert that carries Bowker Creek through much of the Shelbourne Valley.
The rectangular, concrete culvert has been in place for decades, and extends below some major buildings in the area.
“Going underneath, that’s not an easy task and there was some water seepage that made excavation more challenging,” said Harley Machielse, Saanich director of engineering.
Despite the municipality having detailed drawings of what’s there, “some of these things are not fully understood until you start to really do the excavation and see what’s underground,” he said.
The culvert also requires repairs, Machielse said.
“And even though it’s so dry, there’s still water funnelling through the culvert and that’s delayed a little bit of the construction.”
Along with the culvert, Machielse said there is an array of utilities — since the road is a major thoroughfare — that crews have to dig beneath.
Nonetheless, there is some hope the extended closure might end early, he said.
Pedestrians and cyclists can still get through, while people can get to their homes and to area businesses via side routes.
Fujiya Foods is just north of Pear Street but is feeling few effects from the closure, said staff member Michiyo Nishimura.
“For the first couple days it was slow and then it picked up, and now it’s busy as usual. People found a way to get around.”
She said people call occasionally with concerns about the closure and are given instructions on how to avoid it.
Machielse said the public’s patience with the closure “has been fantastic.” Some of that traffic burden is shifting to other routes, however.
“Richmond and Cedar Hill Road are probably taking the bulk of it, so you’re going to see some delays there.”
The volume of traffic is typically lower in the summer with the University of Victoria and Camosun College being on hiatus, Machielse said.
>>> To comment on this article, write a letter to the editor: [email protected]
