Transportation Master Plan: Implementation

The District of Sooke is pleased to announce that progress continues on the much-anticipated Little River Crossing Project. At the September 23rd Council meeting, Sooke Council authorized the issuance of the Development Permit for the construction of a multi-use trail and bridge that will greatly enhance connectivity within the community. The new trail and bridge will connect Sunriver Way by Poirier Elementary School, facilitating pedestrian travel between Sooke’s Town Core and the Sunriver Neighbourhood.

“This project marks an exciting step forward in the development of Sooke's trail system,” said Mayor Maja Tait. “It reflects our commitment to creating a walkable, connected community while protecting and enhancing our natural environment, and providing alternative means to get around Sooke to lessen reliance on Highway 14.”

The Little River Crossing will not only provide a safe and scenic route for pedestrians and cyclists but also encourage outdoor activity and ease transportation challenges by offering a sustainable, active transportation option. The multi-use trail and bridge design is part of the District’s broader vision for enhancing local infrastructure and supporting community health, safety, and mobility. It will transform an approximately 8-kilometre round trip on Highway 14, often travelled by vehicle, to an approximate 1.2-kilometre walk or wheel route.

Key Tentative Project Milestones:

• August 2024: Receive Agricultural Land Commission (ALR) decision - COMPLETE
• September 2024 – Obtain approvals and finalize design.
• Fall 2024 – Invitation to Tender posted
• December 2024 – Award construction contract
• January 2025 to February 2025 – Site preparation (in advance of bird nesting season March to June).
• Spring 2025 – Trail and boardwalk construction begins
• August 1 to September 15, 2025 – Bridge and instream works conducted around fisheries window.
• Fall 2025 – Substantial completion.

Further updates on the project timeline will be shared as the project advances.

To learn more about the project’s history, please visit:

• Little River (Demamiel Creek) Pedestrian Crossing (sooke.ca)

At the 2024 Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Convention, Mayor Maja Tait and Sooke Council, along with Chief Administrative Officer Raechel Gray, continued to advocate for significant transportation improvements to address concerns in our community. As Sooke transitions from a bedroom community to a dynamic and growing region, Council is keenly aware of the increasing pressures on the transportation network.

A key focus of the advocacy efforts at UBCM has been securing further support for Highway 14 improvements, expanding public transit services, and exploring alternative routes to relieve traffic congestion. Council also emphasized the importance of multi-modal transportation options, such as cycling and walking pathways, and is pushing for initiatives that align with Sooke’s evolving needs. These advocacy efforts are part of an ongoing commitment to ensure that Sooke’s infrastructure evolves with its population growth and economic development.

“Transportation remains one of our highest priorities,” said Mayor Tait. “Council has been persistent in our conversations with the Province and other levels of government to advocate for the resources and support needed to address the concerns we’re hearing from residents. We’re committed to finding lasting solutions that will manage our growth and improve connectivity for all.”

The District appreciates the community’s patience and adaptability during this period of transition. With sustained advocacy from Council, alongside the support of the public and multiple levels of government, meaningful improvements are on the horizon. Together, we are working toward a more efficient and sustainable transportation future for Sooke.

The District of Sooke is pleased to provide an update on the Charters Road construction as the project is set to reach a significant milestone, paving, this week! However, while this is a significant step forward provided favourable weather remains, coordination with subcontractors and requirements to ensure a safe site for crews and the public means a continued closure will be in effect. The District, along with the project contractor, Hazelwood Construction, shares the community’s desire to see this project completed in a timely manner.

Over the summer, the District explored multiple options to expedite the work, including the potential for a modified reopening. While this option could not be guaranteed, our commitment to keeping the project on or ahead of the end of October schedule remains.

The safety of both the public and construction crews is our top priority, and we will not compromise the quality or integrity of the work. District staff continue to collaborate closely with Hazelwood Construction to ensure that all subcontractor work progresses efficiently. We are also prepared to introduce additional measures, such as enhanced traffic control, to support a partial reopening of the road—provided it does not delay the overall project.

As we have stated throughout the project, should an opportunity arise to reopen Charters Road earlier than originally scheduled, we will act on it. This commitment remains unchanged.

While paving is in progress, subcontractors will not have access to the site, so subsequent work will follow once paving is finished.

Jeff Stevens, Project Manager with Hazelwood Construction has expressed satisfaction with the progress to date, stating, “We’re pleased that a project of this complexity remains on schedule. We will continue to coordinate with the District to provide updated communications after paving is complete and more definitive options for reopening are available.”

Additionally, Mayor Maja Tait and members of Council, along with Chief Administrative Officer Raechel Gray, are attending the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Convention in Vancouver to advocate on several key transportation issues for our community, including:

1. Expedited and Increased Transit Services to Sooke: Advocacy for swift implementation of the Sooke Local Area Transit Plan, focusing on increased service hours.
2. Vision for Highway 14 and Current Transportation Issues: Advocacy for the next phase of Highway 14 upgrades, and efforts to reduce congestion and improve the quality of life for residents through Highway 14 improvements.
3. Infrastructure Funding for the Transportation Master Plan (TMP): Seeking funding to build out critical internal road networks, support transit, and promote active transportation, reducing car dependency.
4. Co-working Hub Initiative: Advocacy for the creation of a co-working hub in Sooke to support economic development and remote workers.

For further updates, please follow the District of Sooke’s official communication channels, including our website and electronic newsletter. You can also reach us by phone at 250.642.1634 or email at info@sooke.ca.

Crews have made steady progress on the Charters Road project. Recent efforts focused on wall block installation, extending the west wall further to the north. Work is also continuing on the underground servicing, including the installation of storm mains and fire hydrant stations. Although much of this work is out of sight, it plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and resilience of our community once the road is complete.

As of now, the project remains on schedule, with the anticipated reopening of Charters Road set for the end of October 2024.

As CAO Raechel Gray shared in her August 30th update and at the September 9th Council meeting, the District explored the possibility of opening Charters Road to single-lane alternating traffic or conducting night work over the summer. Unfortunately, early cost estimates and a high potential for project delays, combined with concerns about labour shortages and adapting site safety for both crews and the public, made these options unfeasible. As a result, the focus remains on reaching substantial completion by the scheduled date of October 31, 2024, to help ease traffic congestion as soon as possible.

We appreciate your ongoing patience as this important work continues.

Related:

• • August 30, 2024: Community Update, August 1, 2024: Charters Road Construction Project
  • August 1, 2024: Community Update, August 1, 2024: Charters Road Construction Project
  • July 18, 2024: Community Update, July 18, 2024: Charters Road Construction Project
  • July 17, 2024: Update on Transportation Infrastructure and Traffic Concerns from the District of Sooke Chief Administrative Officer, Raechel Gray
  • June 27, 2024: Community Update, June 27, 2024: Charters Road Construction Project
  • June 13, 2024: Community Update, June 13, 2024: Charters Road Construction Project
  • June 12, 2024: Rock Crusher Mobilizing on Nearby Property Alongside Charters Road Construction
  • June 5, 2024: June Mayoral Message: Addressing Traffic Challenges and Enhancing Community Infrastructure in Sooke
  • May 31, 2024: Statement on Charters Road Closure and Highway 14 Congestion Resulting from this Project
  • May 23, 2024: Closure of Charters Road in Sooke for Essential Infrastructure Upgrades: May 27, 2024 until October 2024

Photos – Storm line and understand hydrant installations:

To date, crews have been working diligently and putting in long hours completing all utility connections including a major water main and sanitary force main installation while constructing 2 significant retaining walls in unison with bringing Charters Road towards final road grade elevations. The District worked in unison with the contractor ensuring that road construction materials were produced on site, avoiding any potential delays that could have been realized. As a positive result, there have been no unforeseen delays that have occurred to date and the project remains on schedule.

Now that elevations of the project have approached road sub-grade elevations for Charters Road, the significant remaining works include placement of road sub-grade / base materials, shallow utilities, concrete curb & sidewalk, surface storm utility installations, final grading & compaction, asphalt paving, as well as installation of fabricated safety railings and light standards. Over the last few weeks, staff worked with the contractors to confirm the possibility of a single lane opening in September or night work being completed as a way to accelerate the project. As most of the final works are sub-contracted works and span the extent of the roadway, these works must be completed during the day under full closure. Keeping the job site safe and the project on or ahead of schedule are the District’s top priorities.

We are empathetic and understand the impacts of closing and reconstructing one of the major collector corridors in the District; however, the reconstruction of Charters Road will not only address public safety issues but will complete one of the key projects identified in the District’s Transportation Master Plan.

While substantial completion and opening of Charters is targeted for end of October, the District will continue to work diligently with the prime contractor and sub-contractors to explore any options to potentially expedite this opening schedule of Charter Road through the remaining stages of the project.

We appreciate the public's patience while we bring this critical corridor project to substantial completion.

Related:

• August 1, 2024: Community Update, August 1, 2024: Charters Road Construction Project
• July 18, 2024: Community Update, July 18, 2024: Charters Road Construction Project
• July 17, 2024: Update on Transportation Infrastructure and Traffic Concerns from the District of Sooke Chief Administrative Officer, Raechel Gray
• June 27, 2024: Community Update, June 27, 2024: Charters Road Construction Project
• June 13, 2024: Community Update, June 13, 2024: Charters Road Construction Project
• June 12, 2024: Rock Crusher Mobilizing on Nearby Property Alongside Charters Road Construction
• June 5, 2024: June Mayoral Message: Addressing Traffic Challenges and Enhancing Community Infrastructure in Sooke
• May 31, 2024: Statement on Charters Road Closure and Highway 14 Congestion Resulting from this Project
• May 23, 2024: Closure of Charters Road in Sooke for Essential Infrastructure Upgrades: May 27, 2024 until October 2024
• Resource: Navigating Sooke: Transforming Traffic Challenges into Solutions

Crews are continuing the installation of the retaining wall and raising the road. Throughout this process, crews are backfilling and compacting the surfacing before a new layer is applied. Additionally, geo-grid materials are being used for the rows of wall blocks to ensure structural integrity.

The first 10 (of 19) rows of wall blocks have been installed, again with backfilling and compacting as road elevation continues. Preparation for essential utility relocation is nearing completion, and utility crews are scheduled to mobilize in early September.

After water, sewer and storm mains are installed additional layer of road base will be applied, before paving can occur.

Project Status

At this time, the project remains on schedule with Charters Road anticipated to reopen by the end of October 2024.

Current Congestion

The District is monitoring traffic flow and sees peak delays most commonly reaching 18 minutes around 5:30 pm. on Highway 14 approaching the Sooke town core. Traffic delays are greater leading into the weekend, and the most optimal evening travel times appear to be after 6 pm.

On July 17, 2024, CAO Gray provided an “Update on Transportation Infrastructure and Traffic Concerns,” highlighting our dedication to developing short, medium, and long-term solutions for our transportation needs. Our team is facing these challenges head-on and is committed to realizing effective solutions. Key points from this update include:

• Charters Road Project: We are committed to keeping this project on schedule, if not ahead of schedule, as a short-term solution to our transportation challenges.
• Throup Road Connector and Phillips Road Corridor: We are finalizing the design of these projects to update costs should Council decide to proceed with a referendum on borrowing funds.
• Highway 14 Improvements: Our engineering staff has initiated dialogue with provincial staff to explore a dedicated westbound transit and right-turn lane along the corridor from the Sooke River Bridge to Church Road.
• Contracted Engineer Engagement: To further support our efforts, we are engaging a contracted engineer to focus on alternative solutions not identified in the Transportation Master Plan. They will also help quantify the return on investments to prioritize actions appropriately.

In sharing this update on Charters Road, the District is reminding residents to please complete the 2025 Budget Survey, which invites feedback on traffic solutions. The survey remains open until August 25, 2024.

We appreciate the community's patience and cooperation as we work to improve our infrastructure. We will continue to provide updates to keep the community informed about our progress.

Related:

• July 18, 2024: Community Update, July 18, 2024: Charters Road Construction Project
• July 17, 2024: Update on Transportation Infrastructure and Traffic Concerns from the District of Sooke Chief Administrative Officer, Raechel Gray
• June 27, 2024: Community Update, June 27, 2024: Charters Road Construction Project
• June 13, 2024: Community Update, June 13, 2024: Charters Road Construction Project
• June 12, 2024: Rock Crusher Mobilizing on Nearby Property Alongside Charters Road Construction
• June 5, 2024: June Mayoral Message: Addressing Traffic Challenges and Enhancing Community Infrastructure in Sooke
• May 31, 2024: Statement on Charters Road Closure and Highway 14 Congestion Resulting from this Project
• May 23, 2024: Closure of Charters Road in Sooke for Essential Infrastructure Upgrades: May 27, 2024 until October 2024
• Resource: Navigating Sooke: Transforming Traffic Challenges into Solutions

Photos: Retaining wall construction through various stages over the last two weeks:

We are pleased to report significant progress on the Charters Road Construction Project since our last update on June 13th.

Since June 13th, the rock crusher has been operational at a neighbouring site to ensure a steady supply of materials. To further streamline operations, additional crushing days have been scheduled for July 2 and 3, from 7 am to 7pm. This approach is reducing the reliance on trucking of an estimated 800 dump trucks of material during this phase, alleviating congestion and potential project delays. While specific time savings are yet to be confirmed, the project team remains optimistic about achieving efficiencies.

All sections of the culvert have been placed. Currently, crews are backfilling around the culvert, with plans underway to redirect the temporary creek bypass system in the near future.

Crews continue to prepare for the structural wall, which will include the removal of any existing unsuitable ground material.

The project team continues to collaborate closely with environmental experts to ensure that all work adheres to environmental regulations and minimizes impact on local ecosystems.

Thank you for your ongoing patience as we work to enhance Charters Road. We remain dedicated to delivering a high-quality result that benefits the entire community.

We will continue to keep you informed. The next project update is scheduled for Thursday, July 11, 2024.

Related:

• June 13, 2024: Community Update, June 13, 2024: Charters Road Construction Project
• June 12, 2024: Rock Crusher Mobilizing on Nearby Property Alongside Charters Road Construction
• June 5, 2024: June Mayoral Message: Addressing Traffic Challenges and Enhancing Community Infrastructure in Sooke
• May 31, 2024: Statement on Charters Road Closure and Highway 14 Congestion Resulting from this Project
• May 23, 2024: Closure of Charters Road in Sooke for Essential Infrastructure Upgrades: May 27, 2024 until October 2024
• Resource: Navigating Sooke: Transforming Traffic Challenges into Solutions

The District is pleased to offer this update on the Charters Road construction project:

The Charters Road project is progressing well through this early phase of the current construction period. With preparatory work, including excavation, being carried out in collaboration with environmental and cultural stakeholders to align with the fisheries window the project is currently on schedule. While unforeseen circumstances are more common than anyone would like with construction projects, mobilization at the site to coordinate works that can only occur during the fisheries window is on track!

One of the significant milestones achieved in recent days is rerouting some of the underground infrastructure, such as sewer services. This less visible aspect of our infrastructure is essential to maintain smooth operations.

Starting today, a rock crusher is positioning on a neighbouring property. This will bring several benefits to the community! It means we can reduce the number of dump trucks traveling through Sooke and lessens a few more vehicles travelling on Highway 14 and local roads. Plus, it saves time and resources by bringing materials directly to the construction site. While it’s too early for us to confirm this can progress works more quickly, it’s a welcome consideration.

Looking ahead, the next phase of construction involves work in the stream. This phase can only happen between June 15 and September 15 to protect sensitive habitats, so it’s crucial that the project team is ready to meet these milestones. Over the next two weeks, the team is working towards:

• removing the old culvert and installing a new box culvert.
• completing in-stream construction work to prepare for wall installation.

The District is committed to keeping the community informed about the progress of this critical infrastructure project and efforts to rebuild Charters Road. The next update will be provided on Thursday, June 27, 2024.

Related:

• June 12, 2024: Rock Crusher Mobilizing on Nearby Property Alongside Charters Road Construction
• June 5, 2024: June Mayoral Message: Addressing Traffic Challenges and Enhancing Community Infrastructure in Sooke
• May 31, 2024: Statement on Charters Road Closure and Highway 14 Congestion Resulting from this Project
• May 23, 2024: Closure of Charters Road in Sooke for Essential Infrastructure Upgrades: May 27, 2024 until October 2024
• Resource: Navigating Sooke: Transforming Traffic Challenges into Solutions

In hopes of expediting construction timelines on Charters Road, a rock crusher is mobilizing on private property adjacent to the project site. This measure aims to reduce the time transporting materials to the construction site and, as a result, potentially construction timelines.

Coordinating material mobilization with key project milestones means this work will commence in the coming days, as early as tomorrow. Inevitably, this will overlap with school and fastball season. However, the District has proactively contacted these area stakeholders to balance the impacts as best as possible, acknowledging the greater benefit for the community.

“We recognize the inconvenience this project is causing on many levels,” says Chief Administrative Officer Raechel Gray. “Our team is actively exploring available options to keep the Charters Road construction on track, striving to exceed deadlines if at all feasible. However, unforeseen circumstances are a reality in construction. Nonetheless, we remain dedicated to advancing the Transportation Master Plan in collaboration with various stakeholders, ultimately enhancing travel to and within Sooke.”

The rock crushing will produce loud, continuous noise during the following hours, with a break from approximately 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, from June 13^th to 28^th, with some exclusions:

• 7 am to 7 pm, Monday to Thursday
• 7 am to 4 pm, Friday

No crushing will occur on June 24^th or 25^th and modified hours will be in place on June 26^th, with crushing occurring from 7 am to 11 am. Hours will extend on Friday, June 28^th until 7 pm.

Water will be used to manage dust and debris.

This operation is made possible through the cooperation between the private property owner and Hazelwood Construction.

Related:

• May 23, 2024: https://sooke.ca/closure-of-charters-road-in-sooke-for-essential-infrastructure-upgrades-may-27-2024-until-october-2024/
• May 31, 2024: https://sooke.ca/statement-on-charters-road-closure-and-highway-14-congestion-resulting-from-this-project/
• June 5, 2024: https://sooke.ca/june-mayoral-message-addressing-traffic-challenges-and-enhancing-community-infrastructure-in-sooke/
• Updated June 6, 2024: https://sooke.ca/district-services/departments/engineering/transportation-master-planning-projects/