Online apps show the deepest of red lines indicating a molasses stream of northbound traffic winding down the Malahat and beyond the Millstream overpass in Langford.
May long weekend travel has officially started.
The Victoria Day long weekend is traditionally busy on the roads and waterways, BC Ferries added extra sailings to help get folks on and off the Island but even those are backed up as of noon Friday (May 19).
Traffic is crawling over the Malahat. This is the view of the Trans-Canada Highway from the Millstream overpass in Langford. #yyj #yyjtraffic pic.twitter.com/6QmbzuGXjG
— Katherine Engqvist (@kengqvist) May 19, 2023
The province issued an alert around midday Friday encouraging Malahat drivers to avoid peak travel times for a safer and more relaxed journey.
“Significant traffic congestion is expected on the corridor this weekend due to sunny weather and the (last) long weekend of spring. To ensure a smoother journey, consider leaving early in the morning or later in the evening when traffic is lighter,” the release said.
Drivers are reminded that while no work will take place at the Tunnel Hill site, construction site speed limits remain in effect. Work resumes Tuesday at 8 a.m.
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At noon, the 1 and 2 p.m. sailings were chock full with ticket sales and the standard vehicle deck full on the 3 p.m. but room on the ‘mixed vehicle’ or lower deck for those bound from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay. Things are less busy headed off the Island with no sailing waits so far.
The other traditionally busy route off the Island, but would require a trip over the jam-packed Malahat for Greater Victoria drivers, is the Nanaimo to Tsawwassen route. Those headed to Nanaimo face a wait unless they have reservations, as the next boat with room is the 5:45 p.m. Again those headed off the Island face a better fate, with space on the next boat at 3:15 p.m.
Find the latest updates at bcferries.com.
@van_reeuwyk
christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca
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