Overnight highway closures are coming as work continues on the flyover at Keating Cross Road and Highway 17.
Commonly called the Pat Bay Highway, it’s set to close overnight Thursday, July 25 at 10 p.m. reopening the next morning for 6 a.m. Closures are also scheduled for Monday, July 29 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day and Wednesday, Aug. 7 from 10 p.m. to 6 the next morning.
Highway 17 connects the Island and the Saanich Peninsula including the Victoria International Airport and BC Ferries’ Swartz Bay terminal.
While the province, through DriveBC, is warning drivers to avoid the area, a detour is available with some limitations. The route will see southbound drivers use Island View, Saanich Cross Road, Central Saanich Cross Road and Tanner as a detour. Drivers can expect delays of up to 20 minutes and are encouraged to plan ahead or chose alternative routes when possible. Vehicles wider than 2.6 metres are not allowed on the detour route.
The area is already subject to routine lane closures while work is underway on the $76.8 million overpass providing access to Keating Industrial area, funded with $57.6 million from the province, $16.7 million from the federal government and $2.5 million from the District of Central Saanich.
A $54.5-million contract was awarded to FlatIron Constructors Canada Ltd. in spring 2023 followed promptly with the start of construction.
The project will see the northbound turn lane onto Keating Cross Road replaced with a flyover from Highway 17. Other work includes a new sidewalk on Keating Cross Road, widening Keating Cross Road and the highway, realigning the southbound on-ramp, and closing the Highway 17 access at East Saanich and Martindale roads.
Construction of the Highway 17 Keating Cross Road Overpass project is now at the halfway point and on track for completion in the spring of 2025.
