Throup Road Connector and Phillips Road Corridor Project

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About the Project

The District of Sooke is designing the Throup Road Connector and Phillips Road Corridor as part of the Transportation Master Plan and the long-term goal of creating a multimodal route parallel to Highway 14, ultimately extending from Phillips Road to West Coast Road.

This parallel route is intended to provide an alternative way to move through Sooke’s town core, supporting walking, rolling, and vehicle travel, while helping to relieve congestion on Highway 14.

The current focus is on the Throup Road Connector–Phillips Road Corridor portion of the project. As design work advances, the District is initiating conversations with some neighbouring property owners. This engagement is expected to continue through 2025, and will inform the final design.

Once the final design is complete, it will be shared with the public ahead of an anticipated referendum on project borrowing. Council has directed staff to prepare for a long-term borrowing referendum to be held alongside the 2026 general local election. The 2026 election is scheduled for October 17, 2026.

We also recognize that large infrastructure projects involve trade-offs, including financial costs and environmental impacts. Our aim is to make these considerations clear so that residents have the information they need to carefully weigh both the benefits and the challenges when making their decision and participating in the referendum.

This Let’s Talk Sooke page will serve as a central resource hub to:

  • Learn about the project’s purpose and scope.
  • Track the project’s progress and timeline.
  • Access background documents and design updates.
  • Submit your questions and see answers as they become available.

We are committed to keeping residents informed and supported ahead of the potential borrowing referendum (tentatively) planned for the 2026 Local Government General Election.

Understanding Trade Offs and Respecting Differing Opinions

Large infrastructure projects, like the Throup Road Connector and Phillips Road Corridor, bring both benefits and challenges. As we prepare for a potential 2026 borrowing referendum, residents need clear, balanced information to make an informed choice.

Key considerations:

  • Financial Costs: The early project estimate is $50 million, which equates to roughly $300 per year (or $25 per month) per household, before accounting for grants or other funding sources. The District has applied for $29 million in grant funding to support the project. This estimate includes a contingency of approximately $14 million to manage potential cost variations.
  • Environmental Impacts: Road construction affects land and ecosystems. The project includes mitigation such as wildlife protection, stormwater upgrades, and ecological safeguards, though some impacts are unavoidable.
  • Community Benefits: Improved traffic flow, more connected walking and cycling routes, upgraded utilities, and potential parking enhancements.

Different Perspectives
Residents may weigh priorities differently—some view the project as an investment in safety and future growth, while others may be concerned about costs, construction, or environmental effects. Many see both sides.

Our Commitment
We will:

  • Provide transparent, accessible information on scope, costs, and impacts.
  • Listen to all viewpoints—supportive, opposed, or undecided.
  • Help residents make informed decisions through open engagement.

By respecting different perspectives and discussing trade-offs honestly, we can make a choice that reflects our shared community values.

About the Project

The District of Sooke is designing the Throup Road Connector and Phillips Road Corridor as part of the Transportation Master Plan and the long-term goal of creating a multimodal route parallel to Highway 14, ultimately extending from Phillips Road to West Coast Road.

This parallel route is intended to provide an alternative way to move through Sooke’s town core, supporting walking, rolling, and vehicle travel, while helping to relieve congestion on Highway 14.

The current focus is on the Throup Road Connector–Phillips Road Corridor portion of the project. As design work advances, the District is initiating conversations with some neighbouring property owners. This engagement is expected to continue through 2025, and will inform the final design.

Once the final design is complete, it will be shared with the public ahead of an anticipated referendum on project borrowing. Council has directed staff to prepare for a long-term borrowing referendum to be held alongside the 2026 general local election. The 2026 election is scheduled for October 17, 2026.

We also recognize that large infrastructure projects involve trade-offs, including financial costs and environmental impacts. Our aim is to make these considerations clear so that residents have the information they need to carefully weigh both the benefits and the challenges when making their decision and participating in the referendum.

This Let’s Talk Sooke page will serve as a central resource hub to:

  • Learn about the project’s purpose and scope.
  • Track the project’s progress and timeline.
  • Access background documents and design updates.
  • Submit your questions and see answers as they become available.

We are committed to keeping residents informed and supported ahead of the potential borrowing referendum (tentatively) planned for the 2026 Local Government General Election.

Understanding Trade Offs and Respecting Differing Opinions

Large infrastructure projects, like the Throup Road Connector and Phillips Road Corridor, bring both benefits and challenges. As we prepare for a potential 2026 borrowing referendum, residents need clear, balanced information to make an informed choice.

Key considerations:

  • Financial Costs: The early project estimate is $50 million, which equates to roughly $300 per year (or $25 per month) per household, before accounting for grants or other funding sources. The District has applied for $29 million in grant funding to support the project. This estimate includes a contingency of approximately $14 million to manage potential cost variations.
  • Environmental Impacts: Road construction affects land and ecosystems. The project includes mitigation such as wildlife protection, stormwater upgrades, and ecological safeguards, though some impacts are unavoidable.
  • Community Benefits: Improved traffic flow, more connected walking and cycling routes, upgraded utilities, and potential parking enhancements.

Different Perspectives
Residents may weigh priorities differently—some view the project as an investment in safety and future growth, while others may be concerned about costs, construction, or environmental effects. Many see both sides.

Our Commitment
We will:

  • Provide transparent, accessible information on scope, costs, and impacts.
  • Listen to all viewpoints—supportive, opposed, or undecided.
  • Help residents make informed decisions through open engagement.

By respecting different perspectives and discussing trade-offs honestly, we can make a choice that reflects our shared community values.

  • Current Project Scope and Longer-Term Vision

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    The District’s work on the Throup Road Connector and Phillips Road Corridor is guided by the District’s Transportation Master Plan and four key principles: fiscal responsibility, future-focused planning, balanced decision making, and community choice. Together, these principles emphasize designing for the long term, maximizing benefits while recognizing tradeoffs, pursuing external funding to reduce local costs, and ensuring the community has the final say through a borrowing referendum in 2026.

    This project represents a step toward a more connected and enhanced transportation network for our community while contributing to the longer-term vision of a complete multimodal transportation system in Sooke.

    Near-Term Priorities: What’s Included

    The current project focuses on infrastructure that improves safety, accessibility, and traffic flow, while being mindful of cost, community needs, and long-term resilience:

    • New roundabout connection: A roundabout behind SEAPARC will connect to the new Throup Connector Road.
    • Multimodal travel options: Multimodal paths for pedestrian and wheel travel will run from Phillips Road at Highway 14 to the new roundabout, and along Throup Road from the SEAPARC roundabout to the Church-Throup Road roundabout, offering safety and accessibility improvements for all users.
    • Environmental and community considerations: Wildlife considerations, parking enhancements, improved underground utilities and stormwater management, and protection of archaeological and ecological values are built into the design.

    These near-term elements reflect priorities identified in the District’s Transportation Master Plan and will be the subject of a borrowing referendum in 2026. The borrowing amount will be determined based on final design and what is not acquired through grants and alternative funding sources. The borrowing required to fund the current project scope, which is intended to meet Sooke's needs for decades to come, is anticipated to be $300 per year for the next 30 years. This equates to $25 per month for the average residential property in Sooke.

    Looking Further Ahead: The Longer-Term Vision

    This project is just one piece of a larger picture. Further to the Throup Road Connector and Phillips Road Corridor projects, the District is planning a connected network of roads, pathways, and transit features that will:

    • Improve travel within Sooke
    • Support active transportation
    • Provide a parallel route to Highway 14 to ease vehicle congestion

    Future phases envision:

    • A roundabout at Otter Point Road and Wadams Way alongside the future development on Otter Point Road.
    • Multimodal links along Grant Road to West Coast Road
    • A new local transit exchange on Wadams Way, endorsed by Council and currently under review by the Regional Transit Commission

    When complete, this connected network will offer safe, efficient, and inclusive travel choices—helping residents, visitors, and businesses move through Sooke’s core with greater ease and reliability.

Page last updated: 13 Nov 2025, 09:20 AM