Highway 1 bus lanes open in Saanich

Saanich, B.C., commuters may notice a quicker ride through one of the region’s busiest traffic bottlenecks starting this week.

New bus-on-shoulder lanes are now open in both directions on Highway 1 at the Colquitz River Bridges in Saanich, giving buses a way around congestion along a notoriously slow stretch between the Westshore and downtown Victoria.

Provincial officials say the new lanes are expected to improve travel times and reliability for the more than 300 buses that cross the corridor every day carrying thousands of passengers.

“These new bus-on-shoulder lanes on the Colquitz River Bridges along Highway 1 will help keep buses moving reliably through busy traffic and improve travel times for commuters during peak hours,” Transportation and Transit Minister Mike Farnworth said in a news release Tuesday.

The project targets a major pinch point near Burnside Road, where traffic frequently backs up during morning and afternoon rush hour.

Drivers may notice little difference at first glance, but transit riders could see buses move more steadily through the corridor as congestion builds around them.

The new lanes connect existing transit-priority routes along Douglas Street and Highway 1 to the McKenzie Interchange, helping create a more continuous rapid transit corridor through the region.

They are also expected to tie into a larger Highway 1 bus-on-shoulder project currently under construction between the McKenzie Interchange and Colwood, which is slated for completion in 2027.

BC Transit president and CEO Erinn Pinkerton called the project “an important step” toward improving transit reliability for commuters travelling between the Westshore and downtown Victoria.

“The extension of the current transit lanes strengthens our RapidBus service and reinforces public transit as an efficient, reliable transportation solution,” Pinkerton said.

Beyond transit improvements, the project also included seismic upgrades and widening work on both existing two-lane bridges over Burnside Road.

Environmental upgrades were incorporated into the construction as well, including a new bridge deck drainage system, sediment catch basins, and the replacement of invasive plant species with native vegetation intended to better protect the Colquitz River.

The project cost $33.5 million, with $23.5 million provided by the province and $10 million from the federal government through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock said improvements to regional transit infrastructure are becoming increasingly important as the South Island’s population continues to grow.

“By reducing congestion, these new lanes will allow more residents to get where they need to go more quickly and sustainably,” Murdock said.

The project forms part of the province’s broader South Island Transportation Strategy, which focuses on improving safety, reliability, and transit connections throughout the region.