Despite crews putting the finishing touches on the 34 million dollar Malahat Village Improvement Project, some people think the notorious corridor is still too dangerous.
At issue is the second southbound lane and barrier just north of the Aspen Road turnoff and one resident who lives on the east side of the Trans-Canada in the area said the barrier blocks southbound commuters, forcing them to head north and use the turnaround, crossing two lanes of oncoming traffic.
The Deputy Regional Director with the Ministry of Transportation Janelle Staite said the provincial government heard concerns from the public throughout the project, adding that the construction area meets all engineering standards.
“We actually retained a third-party independent engineering firm to undertake a review of the design of the turnaround facility and the design proved to be a safe design, it met all engineering standards it needed to, to enable folks to make that turn safely,” said Staite.
The resident who lives in the Aspen Road area believes the median barriers block southbound commuters, forcing them to head north and use a turnaround, crossing two lanes of oncoming traffic.
However, Staite said, “They can now make a right turn, they now have a new right turn acceleration lane constructed at the intersection of Aspen Road and then they’re able to head north about eight hundred metres and get into a left turn slot to go into the U-turn facility to turn around and head back south again. That enabled us to eliminate the left turn out of Aspen to head southbound.”
The improvement project aimed to make the stretch of Malahat Drive between Shawnigan Lake Road and Aspen Road safer through the installation of median barriers, four-lane highway, widened shoulders, and improved lighting.
The speed limit between Shawnigan Lake Road and Aspen Road is still 60 kilometres an hour and is expected to increase to 80 in the next couple weeks.
