Highway 17 Keating Cross Overpass
The project will replace the northbound left turn onto Keating Cross Road with a “flyover” overpass, eliminating the need to turn across busy highway traffic and reducing congestion.
Improving safety is the goal of the overpass project, which began construction in June 2023. Ensuring safety for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and construction workers is a key priority during the construction. For the duration of the project, we ask residents and motorists to take extra care while travelling in the area.
For updates
Please see the project website, Highway 17 Keating Cross Overpass Project, and for the latest traffic detours and impacts, please see Drive BC.
To contact the project team
Please note the Ministry of Transportation and Infracture (MoTI) and its contractor FLATIRON Constructors Canada Limited (FCCL) are the lead on traffic safety plans and management and public updates regarding traffic changes. While the District is working closely with the Province, it is important public input is sent directly to the project team. Please email Keating.Overpass@gov.bc.ca. If the concern is about local roads or requires immediate attention, please include our engineering team, engineering@csaanich.ca.
Updates
January 27, 2025 - Project Update
The overpass structure is still targeted to be open in the Summer 2025 allowing motorist to realize much of the project safety and mobility benefits. Other works needed to complete the project may take until the fall of 2025.
Night work will be required during highway lane closures, enabling the contractor to undertake work without causing daytime disruptions to the extensive vehicle traffic on Highway 17.
Drivers can expect delays and are encouraged to:
- Obey all safety signage and drive with care
Check DriveBC for the most up to date information
November 6, 2024 - Traffic Advisory
The traffic lights at the intersection of Keating Cross and Central Saanich Roads will be non-functional on the morning of Thursday, November 7, as electricity must be shut off in the area during gas works related to the Keating Flyover construction.
Traffic control personnel will be onsite to direct traffic. Please drive cautiously and follow their instructions. Thanks for your patience and cooperation!
August 16, 2023: Access Closed - Buena Vista Rd at Keating Cross Road
Closed Friday, August 16, until further notice. Will reopen once paving on Keating is completed (tentatively by early 2025).
July 15, 2024: Full closure of Highway 17 (Pat Bay Highway) to install steel bridge girders.
- July 25, 2024 - 10:00 pm to 6:00 am
- July 29, 2024 - 8:00 pm to 6:00 am
- August 7, 2024 - 10:00 pm to 6:00 am
Plan ahead and avoid closure times when possible. Expect delays up to 15-20 minutes and:
- Avoid the area if possible or use alternate routes
- Obey all safety signage
- Drive with care
See detour map below. Vehicles and/or loads with an overall width greater than 2.6 m are not allowed on the detour.
March 18, 2024: Traffic disruption on Keating Cross Road
As construction continues on the Keating Flyover project, starting on Thursday, March 21, the contractor will begin road improvements and water main replacement along Keating Cross Road, from Highway 17 to Central Saanich Road.
Residents and businesses are to expect traffic interruptions along this section while construction is underway.
Please see Highway 17 Keating Cross Overpass Project, and for the latest traffic detours and impacts, please see Drive BC.
August 29, 2023: Truck Detour Route
July 21, 2023:
As part of road safety measures related to the Keating Flyover, access to Barbara Dr at Keating Cross Rd will be permanently closed on July 28.
June 16, 2023: Update from Ministry of Transportation at the next Council Meeting on Monday, June 26, 7pm
The next Council meeting will include an update from the Ministry of Transportation on the Keating Overpass.
Watch online or attend in person to hear about:
- Traffic management plan update for Council
- Community feedback summary and revised management plan
- Answers to common questions to date
Watch the livestream at: CentralSaanich.ca/Meetings
Submit questions to engineering@csaanich.ca by June 21, 2023.
Due to limited time, only most common questions will be answered at the meeting. All will be answered by email.
Truck Detour Route
June 9, 2023: Local Traffic Diversion Impacts and Safety Measures
The Municipality has heard concerns from residents about the impact of traffic diversions on local roads and routes to Keating Elementary. In preparation for this work, the District installed sidewalks and flashing crosswalks near Keating Elementary School thanks to a grant from the Province of BC. Our Engineering Department is working closely with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and its contractor to make further improvements.
The follow safety measures have been taken or are in progress:
- Increasing traffic enforcement by Central Saanich Police, the Integrated Road Safety Unit, RCMP and Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement.
- Placing traffic and speed counters in areas of concern.
- Enforcing the truck route, monitoring and enforcing speed control, and outreach to trucking companies.
- Monitoring key intersections for adjustments needed to light timing, or other control measures at intersections if needed.
- Installing ‘Share the Road’ signs on Central Saanich and Tanner Roads to alert motorist of other road users.
- Prohibiting parking on west side of Central Saanich near Adam Kerr to Tanner Road.
- Installing a temporary activated crosswalk on Tanner Road this summer.
- Moving the Southbound lane closure on Keating from Tamany to Central Saanich Rd to help ensure commercial vehicles do not miss the signage.
- Revised truck route signage.
Traffic Safety Engineers will continually review the need to reduce the speed limit on Central Saanich and Tanner roads and the impact it would have on other roads.
The ministry and DCS will continue to monitor traffic management throughout the life of the project and take appropriate measures, if needed, to further control traffic congestion and safety.
May 31, 2023: Construction to begin
As the overpass construction gets underway, below is a summary of road closures and detour routes as of May 31, 2023.
Highway 17
- The southbound on ramp from Keating Cross to Highway 17 will be closed at Tamany for the duration of the project.
- Traffic contract will be onsite to assist motorists while they adapt to the closure.
- Drivers will access Highway 17 via a detour from Central Saanich to Tanner Road.
- Truck traffic will be detoured to Central Saanich Road along the existing truck route.
- The left turn off of Highway 17 onto Keating Cross will remain open during construction.
- There will be nightly lane closures in each direction along Highway 17, between Tanner Road and Island View Road.
- Single-lane traffic from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.
- The Highway 17 speed limit is reduced to 60km/hr through the construction zone for the duration of the project. Traffic engineers are auditing the installed speed reduction signage and anticipate that additional signage or adjustments to the positioning of existing signs will occur in an effort to optimize sign visibility.
Highway exits - permanent closures
- Access to Martindale Road closed. Access to Martindale Road available from Gliddon Road.
- Danica Place closed. Access for construction traffic and local residents only.
- Highway 17 left turn onto E Saanich Rd will be closed June 5, 2023, permanently.
Detour routes
- Drivers will access Highway 17 via a detour from Central Saanich to Tanner Road.
- Truck traffic will be detoured to Central Saanich Road along the existing truck route.
In preparation for this work, the District installed sidewalks and flashing crosswalks near Keating Elementary School thanks to a grant from the Province of BC. Central Saanich's Engineering Department is working closely with the province and contractor to monitor and adjust traffic management. This includes:
- Placing traffic and speed counters in areas of concern, they will be moved around to monitor.
- Working with police on monitoring and speed control.
- Monitoring key intersections adjusting light timing, if applicable, or other control measures at intersections if needed.
Pedestrian & Cyclist Accommodation
- Provisions will be made to warn pedestrians of any sidewalk or path closures, and safe detours will be provided, as required. Keating Cross Rd traffic accommodations will specifically address pedestrian movements when those planned work activities commence.
Bus stops
- There are no transit service/bus stops that will be affected with the construction activities at this time.