The McTavish Interchange project near Victoria BC replaces an at‐grade, signalized intersection on Highway 17 with a full movement, grade‐separated interchange. The busy Highway 17 corridor, with peak hour volumes currently exceeding 3,500 vehicles (both directions), connects the Provincial capital to the Victoria International Airport, the Swartz Bay ferry terminal, and the communities of the Saanich peninsula. The project directly or indirectly addresses all modes of transportation by improving safety and reducing travel time for motorists on Highway 17, improving service to the international airport and ferry terminal, accommodating Rapid Bus service on the interchange ramps, expanding local transit operations by incorporating a 6‐bay transit exchange and 200 stall park & ride lot, and providing specific measures to promote and safeguard pedestrians and cyclists. The interchange configuration features multi‐lane modern roundabouts at the ramp terminals to efficiently distribute traffic and to maintain effective connections to the local road network. Another, smaller and single lane roundabout is used to accommodate movements in and out of the transit exchange and park & ride area. The creative use of roundabouts offered operational and connectivity advantages that were otherwise unavailable with more common signalized intersection solutions, and reflects the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s policy to consider roundabouts “as the first option for intersection designs”. Through analysis, (SIDRA and VISSIM), the multi‐lane roundabouts were confirmed capable of accommodating peak hour volumes exceeding 2,600 vehicles, (corresponding to 4,900 vph on Highway 17) at the 2035 forecast horizon. With the added benefits of idling reduction and greater transit usage, the McTavish Interchange project not only results in a safer environment for the traveling public, but also results in more efficient energy use, better air quality, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Total project cost is estimated at approximately $28 million, cost‐shared by the Government of British Columbia, Government of Canada, BC Transit and the Victoria Airport Authority.
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