News release
For immediate release

Protected bike lanes coming soon to Tillicum Road.

Saanich, BC – The District of Saanich will install protected cycling lanes on Tillicum Road with construction starting in early August. This section is an important corridor for safety improvements as it’s a particularly vulnerable area for active transportation users.  

“I’m thrilled to see this safety improvement move forward this summer,” said Councillor and Chair of the Active Transportation Committee Rebecca Mersereau. “Council is committed to road safety. We know improving conditions for pedestrians and cyclists on Tillicum will address an important gap in safe infrastructure and help enable residents to have multiple transportation options.”

Saanich will remove two general purpose vehicle lanes to create the protected cycling lanes. Two general purpose and one left-turning lane will remain along Tillicum Road from Arena Road near Tillicum Centre to Saanich’s boundary with the Township of Esquimalt at Tillicum Road Bridge.

Protected bike lanes offer physical separation from motor vehicle traffic creating safety for all road users among many other benefits. Protected bike lanes: 

• designate space for all road users;
• increase comfort of cyclists and promote cycling to new and less confident cyclists;
• place cyclists in a predictable space on the roadway;
• keep vehicles completely out of bike lanes (no ability to park or pull over into the lanes); and
• promote safety for pedestrians due to extra separation from the roadway.

As with all changes in traffic patterns, there may be some initial delays that will be monitored to allow Saanich staff to adjust traffic signals as needed.

Council approved eight quick-build projects recommended by the Active Transportation Advisory Committee, including the Tillicum Road bike lane separation, at its March 14, 2022 meeting. The project budget is estimated at $500,000. The protected bike lanes are expected to be open in late 2022.

Learn more

Find more information about the bike lane separation at Tillicum and other quick build projects at Saanich.ca.

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Media contact:
Harley Machielse
Director of Engineering
250-475-5447
harley.machielse@saanich.ca