The Capital Region’s most congested thoroughfare, with routine eight-kilometre or longer bumper-to-bumper back-ups during the evening commute, is in-store for further improvements, according to the District of Sooke.

 

 

Sooke mayor Maja Tait addressed constituents on February 20 in a monthly municipal update confirming the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) has its sights set on new Highway 14 work.

 

"I recognize the frustrations you deal with daily, and I’m pleased to announce that representatives from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will be attending our April 8th Council meeting to discuss ongoing and upcoming Highway 14 projects," Tait said, adding that “understanding the short-, medium-, and long-term solutions being considered will allow us to align our efforts more effectively as we work towards improving the quality of life for all residents."

 

Sooke commuters and residents have grown increasingly frustrated over a fast pace of residential development in the western-most suburb of Victoria, while the town of 15,000 residents (as of the 2021 federal census, not including populations in East Sooke, Otter Point, Shirley or Jordan River) continues to rely on a single, two-lane road in and out of the community.

 

Although Highway 14 between Langford and Sooke has two four-lane portions, the passing opportunities end roughly eight kilometres east of Sooke’s town centre, leaving a congested, detour-absent roadway with no centre lanes for turning traffic, no passing opportunities and frequent collisions that shut down the highway or cause significant delays due to single lane-alternating traffic flow.

 

Over the last five years, Highway 14 has benefited from a stream of small and large-scale improvements, the largest of which culminated in 2023 with an $87 million four-lane expansion between Connie and Glinz Lake roads at Gillespie Road (the exit towards East Sooke), and shoulder improvements for a span of 11 kilometres between Otter Point Road's western terminus and French Beach. Minor work delivered several bus pull-outs for BC Transit buses, a controlled intersection at Highway 14 and Sooke River Road, and improvements like an enhanced rest area near Sombrio Beach.

 

Future work already on the books includes a small roundabout on Highway 14 at Charters Road just east of Sooke's town centre. That project could get moving within the next year, provided it remains part of a provincial vision that will be presented in April.

 

Commuters and residents of the Sooke Region have called for a secondary route between the West Shore and Sooke, and further capacity increases to Sooke Road to Langford. A bypass route was voted down at a referendum some 20 years ago by Sooke residents. C

 

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