Pat Bay highway flyover opening soon, after years of construction

Drivers on Vancouver Island’s Saanich Peninsula will soon be taking a flyover to cross Highway 17 at Keating Cross Road, as construction nears completion. (CTV News)

Drivers on Vancouver Island’s Saanich Peninsula will soon be taking a flyover to cross Highway 17 at Keating Cross Road, as construction nears completion.

The area’s MLA toured the site Friday afternoon, along with Tsawout First Nation’s chief and Central Saanich’s mayor. The flyover is set to open to northbound traffic on Monday, July 28.

“This has been about community safety,” says Saanich South MLA Lana Popham. “And I think that the hard work and the planning that’s been put into it has definitely delivered an excellent project for the South Island.”

According to B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Transit, the traffic changeover will start at midnight on July 27. This means drivers travelling north on the Pat Bay to Keating Cross Road will use Exit 18 onto the flyover. They will no longer have to wait in a turning bay in the middle of the highway to turn left across traffic. The turning lane will permanently close.

“I’m here to celebrate with the local, municipal and provincial government in their efforts and safety, safety of all of us here on the peninsula, including us at Tsawout. We’re very proud,” says Tsawout First Nation chief Abraham Pelkey.

“I myself have been sitting in the lineup to turn left and you do feel quite vulnerable,” says Popham. “So, people are very aware that this is delivering on safety in a really big way.”

The province says the project is coming in “on time and on budget.” The total project budget is $76.8-million – which includes $16.7-million from the federal government and $2.5-million from the District of Central Saanich.

Mayor Ryan Windsor told the crowd the first political mention for the work happened 50 years ago – four years before he was born. He says he’s thrilled to be talking about the final stages of the work as opposed to when it’s going to start.

“Obviously, there’ll be a period of adjustment. So slow down, use your common sense when you’re coming down he highway. Be safe,” says Windsor.

Crews are warning drivers the area is still an active construction zone, while other work is underway to finish the project over the next few months. The province says drivers should watch for new signage and construction activity – and allow for extra travel time. The speed in the area will remain at the reduced 60 km/h limit while work continues.

On top of improved safety, the ministry says the project will also reduce idling times and related air emissions, better accommodate growing traffic demands, relieve vehicle congestion and improve access to the Keating Business Park.