TransCanada Highway getting safety improvements near Malahat, BC

The Trans-Canada Highway is the main north-south corridor on Vancouver Island and serves as a critical route for moving goods, linking communities, and supporting a thriving tourism industry in the region.

The governments of Canada and British Columbia announced July 27th approximately $34 million in funding to upgrade five kilometres of the TransCanada highway where it passes through Malahat Village. The project will contribute to a safer and more reliable connection between Victoria and Duncan. It will also benefit the surrounding communities by stimulating economic development opportunities for the middle class and those trying to join it.

The safety improvements include expanding five kilometres of highway to four lanes with wider shoulders, installing three kilometres of median barrier, and providing an improved and safer highway access through a frontage road system. Work is anticipated to begin in early 2017 and be completed in 2018. When the Malahat Village upgrade is finished, there will be an 11 kilometre long section of highway with median barrier.

“We recognize how important the Malahat is to the economy and communities on Vancouver Island, and we’ve been very clear about our commitment to improve safety for the families, communities and visitors who rely on it. Through our valuable partnership with the Government of Canada, it’s great to move forward with the Malahat Village project, identified as the next priority in B.C. on the Move, which adds to the $33 million previously invested by the Province since 2001 on the Malahat,” said Todd Stone, B.C. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

The Government of Canada is contributing up to $14 million to this project through the New Building Canada Fund Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component – National and Regional Projects. The Province of British Columbia is providing approximately $20 million and is responsible for any additional costs. The total estimated cost of the project is $34 million.

Quotes

“The Government of Canada has made an unprecedented commitment of more than $120 billion for public infrastructure projects across Canada through the Investing in Canada plan. By working in partnership with every order of government, we will make smart investments that promote sustainable development and long-term prosperity that will help foster a thriving middle class by creating jobs and opening the country to new economic, social and environmental possibilities. It’s thanks to initiatives like the Malahat safety improvement project that we will build 21^stcentury communities and ensure a high quality of life for generations to come.”

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi,
Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“We recognize how important the Malahat is to the economy and communities on Vancouver Island, and we’ve been very clear about our commitment to improve safety for the families, communities and visitors who rely on it. Through our valuable partnership with the Government of Canada, it’s great to move forward with the Malahat Village project, identified as the next priority in B.C. on the Move, which adds to the $33 million previously invested by the Province since 2001 on the Malahat.”

The Honourable Todd Stone,
B.C. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure