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Medians on Malahat coming next week

Wednesday, July 4, 2012 - 5:28 PM
By Natasha Riebe
Duncan

Just when you thought the lanes on the Malahat were a bit too close for comfort, the corridor is about to get a bit tighter, at least temporarily.

Starting July 9, crews are scheduled to start installing concrete median barriers—a 1.4 kilometre stretch north of Finlayson Arm Rd., part of the $8-million safety upgrades planned for the corridor.

Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom explained crews will try to work at night as much as possible to curb the traffic back-ups, but he said drivers can't expect the best of both worlds.

“It is a double-edged sword,” Lekstrom said. “I mean, the public are always requesting additional roadwork to be done throughout the province and many of those same people that are grateful when we announce that we’re going to do it are still concerned when they’re delayed for 10 or 15 minutes.”

A group of police agencies released the report "Making the Mahalat Safer" in January and pointed out that aggressive drivers, tailgaters and speeders are the main culprits in prompting others to speed along the 24-km corridor.

A total of 5.4 kilometre of median barrier will be installed by next spring.

According to the Ministry of Transportation, the Malahat is approximately 20 kilometres long and on average, sees 22,300 vehicles travel on it every day.