Street upgrades have begun on Blanshard Street that aim to improve road safety in Downtown Victoria for everyone. The project from Caledonia Avenue to Fort Street includes road paving, new left turn lanes, protected bike lanes, intersection and crosswalk improvements, traffic signal improvements, new accessible parking and loading zones, landscaping and improved lighting.
The transportation improvements follow the recent completion of underground upgrades along this portion of Blanshard Street to minimize overall costs and traffic disruptions. Blanshard Street is identified in the Official Community Plan Expanded AAA Cycling Network, and the upgrades align with the City’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan priorities of continuing to expand the AAA bike and roll network, including quick solutions to improve safety for all users, and improving the moving experience of pedestrians, mobility device users and the public generally.
Blanshard Street is one of the highest collision corridors in the city and the improvements will help move Victoria towards its goal of eliminating traffic-related deaths or serious injuries.
During construction, all efforts will be made to minimize impacts to traffic, though drivers should be prepared for delays and choose alternate routes when possible. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2025.
To stay informed about construction progress and impacts, the public can subscribe to Blanshard Street email updates at victoria.ca/signup.