Preliminary designs for new connector road
The District of Sooke is actively working on two major road improvement projects; the east-west connector road from Church Road to Otter Point Road and the town centre roundabout. Land acquisitions and preliminary designs for road works are well underway and the public are invited to view and discuss with Council the draft road designs for the new Connector Road at an upcoming Committee of the Whole meeting.
What:
Connector Road preliminary design
When: Monday, January 13, 2014 at 6 p.m.
Where:
District of Sooke council chambers, 2205 Otter Point Road.
Council’s strategic priority is to make the town centre a vibrant, clean and well-maintained node, and is focussing initially on improving transportation flow and pedestrian safety.
The Transportation Master Plan identified the lack of east-west connectivity on both the north and south side of Sooke Road and consequently, council is proceeding with network improvements that include the creation of a new road between Church Road and Otter Point Road.
The connector road project will ease congestion through the downtown core and include a three- metre multi-use trail for pedestrians and cyclists. Construction of the multi-use trail on Church Road from the connector road to Throup Road has already commenced and will be paved in early 2014.
Tree clearing for the connector road right of way will begin immediately.
The Transportation Master Plan also proposed intersection improvements for Sooke Road at “Waterview” in the form of a roundabout. Properly designed and implemented roundabouts operate safer than conventional intersections (signals, two and four way stops) due to reduced speeds and significantly lower conflict points.
More information on the roundabout will be provided to the public in the new year.
According to the Distrioct of Sooke 2013 Annual Report the funding for the connector road is estimated at +$1,900,000. The project was previously planned for 2019 in the DCC schedule. The funding to potentially come from Road DCC and other reserve accounts as only 61 per cent DCC benefit factor.
