Twenty-seven residents living along a section of Sooke Road/Highway 14 received letters in January from the BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways indicating staff would need access to their land as part of highway improvement planning.
But since then, they've learned the Province is looking at straightening a high accident area of Sooke Rd. between Connie and Glintz Lake Roads. The proposal is for a 4-lane bypass that would go right through their lands -- with some possibly having to move.
Resident Maureen Sims says she and her husband would be expected to give up a section containing a pond and well which is important to them. But it would just be for upgrades -- not the alternate route residents need:
" We have one highway. And I noted that they have been discussing, and a proposal has been out there, sort of, for an alternate route. But, this isn't an alternate route what I have been shown. This is highway improvement, which I agree, yes, is needed. But it's not an alternate route. We are still travelling the same chunk of land."
A statement from the Ministry says the work resulted from positive public engagement last summer where adding passing lanes, and straightening curvy sections, was discussed.
The ministry adds alignment has not been confirmed and funding has not yet been secured.