Project delayed but on budget: province

Final contract, worth $42.6M, has been awarded

Completion of the McKenzie interchange has been delayed, but the project is still on budget, the Ministry of Transportation says.

The interchange is expected to open to traffic by summer 2019, rather than the end of 2018, with final touches such as landscaping to be completed after traffic is moving through it.

The cost is still expected to be $85 million.

“In terms of budget, everything is on track,” said regional deputy director Janelle Erwin.

“We had a very challenging winter with lots of rain and snow that put us down.”

That meant preload materials needed more time to settle before construction could continue.

The province also delayed the project to make adjustments to traffic management and the blasting schedule, in response to complaints from residents.

Work is set to begin on the final stage of the project this fall.

The province announced Wednesday it has awarded the final construction contract, worth $42.6 million, to Westpro, a division of Pomerleau Inc., for the work. Westpro also has the contract to remove old jetties at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt.

The work at the interchange will involve lowering the Trans-Canada Highway, and constructing ramps, an overpass and a pedestrian-cyclist bridge over the highway.

Langford Mayor Stew Young said he is satisfied with construction progress, but added he hopes the province commits to adding more lanes to the highway and turning the defunct E&N Rail line into another commuter passageway.

“I’m looking forward to more improvements,” Young said.

The federal government is contributing $32.6 million to the interchange project, while the province is putting in $52.4 million.