Drivers will have another route to get from the Trans-Canada Highway to Sooke if funding comes through for a new road between Westshore Parkway and Sooke Road.
The City of Langford has applied for federal and provincial support to extend Westshore Parkway, which connects with the highway at a lighted intersection northwest of the Leigh Road overpass, by 3.5 kilometres at an estimated $24-million cost.
“It’s meant to be a key north-south connector between the Trans-Canada Highway and Sooke Road,” said Michelle Mahovlich, Langford’s director of engineering.
“It will serve the region, as well as the City of Langford. Locally, it will connect residents in the Sooke Lake Road area to the other more populated areas of Langford.”
The road would run south from Westshore Parkway over the railway tracks to connect with Langford Parkway at a roundabout. From there, it would continue south to meet Sooke Road at Awsworth Road.
Langford staff hope the New Building Canada Fund will cover two-thirds of the cost, with equal shares coming from the provincial and federal governments. The city would cover the remaining third.
The road would consist of two driving lanes, a middle turn lane as necessary, bike lanes along the full length, as well as street lights and sidewalks in urban areas.
The plan also involves installation of water, stormwater, sanitary sewer and electrical improvements. Much of the area along the route is zoned for development or proposed for development in the official community plan, Mahovlich said.
She could not say how many jobs would be created during the construction phase, but said the number would be significant.
Langford plans to pay its portion using development-cost charges, which are funds collected from land developers by a municipality to help cover costs associated with new roads, parks and other public projects.
The $14-billion New Building Canada Fund supports projects of national, regional and local significance that promote economic growth, job creation and productivity, according to Infrastructure Canada.
Grant submissions aren’t due until Feb. 18, so Mahovlich said the municipality is not anticipating a response before then.
If approved, construction could begin as early as this fall, with completion in summer 2017.
