An upcoming project on Sooke Road is expected to improve safety and traffic flow for drivers and pedestrians, as well as provide better access to Saseenos Elementary School with construction expected to start in the fall.
The new signalized four-way intersection at the Idlemore Road intersection will include pedestrian crosswalks, about 700 metres of asphalt resurfacing between Parkland Road and Edward Milne Road, roadway resurfacing and shoulder widening on Highway 14.
At an information session about the project on Monday, June 23, a representative of the Ministry of Transportation and Transit also said there will likely be work on water mains under the road in tandem with the project.
To improve safety for the students, there will be new left-turn slots on Highway 14 at Idlemore, Kaltasin, Saseenos and Parkland roads; there will be a curb and paved sidewalks on both sides of the road; and creation of parent parking lot for student drop-off and pick-up, and improved school bus access and egress at Saseenos Elementary School.
The tender for the project is expected to be complete at the end of the summer, and the ministry hopes to begin construction in the fall, with completion expected for fall 2027.
During construction, there is a traffic management plan in place to minimize disruption to traffic, with single-lane alternating traffic only occurring at night while traffic remains open to two lanes during the day.
