Work will begin in late September on a Trans-Canada Highway upgrade between Leigh Road and West Shore Parkway.
The $9.7-million project, revealed in April, is slated for completion in the summer of 2021.
The highway will be widened from three to four lanes for two kilometres, beginning at Leigh Road. The added lane will then continue through the West Shore Parkway intersection, and the northbound merge lane will be moved to the Goldstream Park side of the signal.
That is expected to add capacity at the intersection and lessen northbound congestion during peak periods.
Along with the widening effort, 1.2 km of concrete median will be added to separate north and south traffic lanes. Reflective devices have already been installed as a temporary measure.
Langford Mayor Stew Young said the advancement of the project “is perfect for us.” He had called for immediate action in February following two deaths in head-on crashes in less than a month.
“They said they would be doing something for the community,” he said. “It’s just a continuation of public safety, and going through Langford much will be much, much safer.”
Young said he appreciates that the stretch of highway was made a priority.
“There was a problem, it needed to be done.”
He noted that the work will take some time.
“It’s a difficult piece, so heavily travelled,” Young said. “You can’t just reroute it somewhere else, so it will have to be done while the people are driving.”
He suggested som work could be done at night.
Once the construction schedule is firmed up, the public will be advised how the project could affect traffic flow.
Funding for the improvements comes from the provincial and federal governments, including $4.75 million from the New Canada Building Fund.
