Amid new landscaping and freshly poured pavement, Central Saanich celebrated the official finish of the East Saanich Road project Friday.
Murray Coell, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, commended residents who endured the 18 months of construction for enduring the disruption, adding “for the next 50 years you’ve got a great road.”
“(Central Saanich) and North Saanich have done a great job together for the pieces that join both municipalities,” Coell said during the official opening. “It’s so much safer for pedestrians and so much safer for cyclists. In the long run, we’re going to save some lives … It really now goes all the way to the airport for cyclists and sidewalks.”
The project included repaving nearly three kilometres of East Saanich Road, from Mount Newton X Road to Island View Road and adding bike lanes and sidewalks.
It included funding from the federal, provincial and municipal governments.
“Our government is proud to have supported this project, as these investments are helping bring about a more prosperous economic future for us all,” said Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, in a letter to the district. “The realization of the District of Central Saanich’s goal to provide residents with safe and accessible transportation is a commendable achievement.”