Improvements to one of the busiest and perhaps trickiest intersections in Saanich, if not the entire Greater Victoria region, will have to wait until after the completion of the McKenzie interchange project. That is the message from the District of Saanich.

Harley Machielse, Saanich director of engineering, said the municipality will reassess issues around the Wilkinson-Interurban intersection after improvements to the intersection of Trans-Canada Highway and McKenzie Avenue have wrapped up.

A non-scientific survey of Saanich B次元官网网址 readers by 37.5 per cent, ahead of the intersection at Trans-Canada Highway and McKenzie Avenue, which received 25 per cent.

B次元官网网址淲e expect to gain a new understanding and perspective after the completion of the McKenzie interchange project,B次元官网网址� said Machielse. B次元官网网址淎t that time, we can see how traffic patterns have adjusted in the area.B次元官网网址�

The current schedule calls for the completion of the McKenzie interchange project following a series of delays since the official start of the long-anticipated project in September 2016. The project worth $85 million promises to improve the flow of private automobile traffic, as well as public transit through one of the major traffic choke points in the region through the addition of a partial B次元官网网址榗lover-leafB次元官网网址� system of on and off-ramps and other improvements.

Not surprisingly, ongoing construction has increased congestion on roads in the surrounding area, including the nearby intersection of Wilkinson Road and Interurban Road.

Seen on a map, it connects a series of roads that radiate out like the letter X. Interurban Road roughly runs from SaanichB次元官网网址檚 southeast towards SaanichB次元官网网址檚 northwest, linking residential and commercial areas around Uptown with the Interurban campus of Camosun College, currently undergoing considerable, if not rapid expansion.

Wilkinson Road, meanwhile, runs from SaanichB次元官网网址檚 northeast quadrant with its residential neighbourhood towards the southwest with Wilkinson turning into Helmcken Road on the other side of Interurban. Helmecken, in turn, connects with roads in neighbouring View Royal and other Westshore communities beyond it. East of Highway 17, Wilkinson Road turns into Royal Oak Drive, thereby linking West Shore communities like View Royal with not only Saanich, but other communities on the Saanich Peninsula.

More locally, Hastings Street running east to west intersects the B次元官网网址榅B次元官网网址� created by Wilkinson Road and Interurban Road, thereby creating a five-way intersection, home to several businesses that serve the immediate Strawberry Vale, Marigold and Glanford neighbourhoods.

In short, the intersection has local and regional significance.

B次元官网网址淭he B次元官网网址� intersection is a particular concern in the region,B次元官网网址� said Machielse. B次元官网网址淲e understand there is significant community interest in improving this area.B次元官网网址�

Saanich has consulted with the public about the intersection in the past, he said. B次元官网网址淯nfortunately, we did not find a solution that was acceptable to a variety of users, including local residents, commuters, BC Transit, pedestrians and cyclists.B次元官网网址� This said, Saanich has not closed the door to future improvements, but only after it has amassed additional data.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important for us understand the post-construction impacts the Interchange project has on the transportation network before we review the five-way intersection,B次元官网网址� he said.