Crews have started work on water main upgrades on Blanshard Street in what is the second year of a decade-long $53.8 million renewal of critical underground infrastructure in Victoria, funded with support from the Government of Canada’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF). The project stretches between Caledonia Avenue through to Fort Street and will continue through summer 2023.
In addition to the water main work on Blanshard Street, other large projects this year include upgrading the Chatham Street Sewer Pump Station, replacing sanitary sewers on a portion of Cook Street and the rehabilitation of a sanitary sewer on Store Street.
These projects are in addition to the four already completed in 2021 and 2022 to replace or upgrade aging infrastructure, some more than 100 years old, to support growing neighbourhoods.
Over the next decade, the City will invest nearly $54 million in 78 capital infrastructure projects - a 40 per cent increase in capital infrastructure investments compared to the past 10 years.
To minimize disruption and maximize public benefit, the City is coordinating the Blanshard Street water main works with other improvements which will include new road paving, replacement of old traffic signal equipment and new road markings to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists and easier for traffic to circulate in the downtown.
Staff are working with the contractor to minimize traffic impacts where possible, however the public should plan for travel delays resulting from this construction.
2023.01.18_MR_DMAF Projects Begin 2023