A busy Vancouver Island highway is getting a major makeover.
Today, the $15 million Malahat improvement project kicked off with some tree clearing and excavation work.
It will be followed by rock blasting and paving.
A stretch of the highway will be widened this summer and 2.3 kilometres of median barrier will be installed from Shawnigan Lake Road north to the Malahat Summit this fall.
A one-kilometre southbound passing lane extension is also in the works.
Drivers are being warned to expect construction delays.
In May, drivers can expect periodic delays of up to 10 minutes for tree clearing and excavation. In June, the Malahat Summit Rest area will be closed for the remainder of construction.
A detailed list of traffic delays and restrictions:
- Southbound traffic will not be stopped between the peak hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.
- Northbound traffic will not be stopped between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- There will be periodic delays of up to 20 minutes outside peak times from Monday to Friday.
- Starting June 15, traffic will not be stopped on Friday afternoons, Saturdays or Sundays.
- Traffic will not be stopped the day before, during and the day after long weekends.
The improvements are expected to be in place by spring of 2015.
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