Charters Road in Sooke is set to partially reopen starting Tuesday now that paving is complete — six weeks ahead of schedule.
In an effort to ease traffic congestion at peak times, the road will be open Monday to Friday from 2-6 p.m., excluding Monday, Sept. 30 and Monday, Oct. 14, the District of Sooke said.
The goal is to have a full reopening Nov. 1.
In the meantime, work will continue on tasks such as line painting and installation of utility poles and sidewalks.
The road is expected to remain off-limits to pedestrians during the partial reopening, pending work on sidewalk handrails being completed.
Three to five full-day closures are expected in coming weeks, the district said, adding it will give as much advance notice as possible.
The project began in May and included replacing a culvert and improvements to the storm-drain system.
The project has added to chronic congestion in the area, but the district has said the road was in poor condition and the fixes had to be made within a certain window of time to protect fish in nearby Charters Creek.
The district said in its statement that while the partial reopening and Charters Road improvements will help, they won’t fully resolve “ongoing traffic challenges in our community.”
“The effects of this closure have highlighted the need for broader solutions involving multiple levels of government.”
An online petition created in June about the traffic congestion now has more than 3,000 names.
The district has contracted a traffic engineer and engineering firm to look at solutions, and says it’s tracking travel times at key periods.
As well, Sooke council has approached the province about congestion-easing measures such as bridge expansions, alternative routes and rapid-bus service.
