ESQUIMALT, BC—With Phase 1 of the Esquimalt Road AAA Bike Lanes and Underground Utilities Project between Lampson Street and Dominion Road nearing completion, the Township of Esquimalt is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of Phase 2 along Esquimalt Road between Lampson Street and Fraser Street, and between Admirals Road and Canteen Road.
Building on previous public engagement, Phase 2 will focus on enhancing comfort, accessibility, and reliability for those traveling along the corridor—whether walking, rolling, cycling, or driving—while upgrading aging underground infrastructure.
“We want to make Esquimalt Road more comfortable, accessible, and better connected for people of all ages and abilities, in alignment with the Township’s Active Transportation Network Plan” said Director of Engineering Joel Clary. “We’re pairing these improvements with utility and pavement rehabilitation to save on costs, minimize future disruptions, and streamline construction work.”
Phase 2 will improve access to important community destinations, including the Esquimalt Recreation Centre, CFB Esquimalt and homes west of Admirals. The project will also upgrade safety and access at key intersections and crossings.
Phase 2 Improvements Include:
Quick-build protected and buffered bike lanes, with designs varying along the corridor
New pedestrian- and cyclist-activated flashing lights at select crossings
New center two-way left-turn lanes west of Sturdee Street
Traffic signal and street lighting upgrades at key locations
Pavement rehabilitation
Sanitary, storm, and water utility upgrades
In terms of parking, township staff looked at existing parking types, how spaces are used and conditions of nearby streets to identify opportunities to shift the parking supply and increase turnover. This is to account for parking losses along parts of Esquimalt Road. While a total of 69 on-street parking stalls are proposed to be removed along Esquimalt Road (between Admirals Road and Canteen Road, and between Fraser Street and Lampson Street), 56 new on-street parking spaces were added in fall 2025 on nearby residential streets in the town centre between Constance Avenue and Fraser Street. These parking spaces are all located within a 5-minute walk of the Esquimalt Road core.
The current amount budgeted for Phase 2 of the project is $4.0M. This includes $3.5M of capital budget as well as $500,000 from development contributions. Paving accounts for 43 per cent of the costs, utility upgrades at 22 per cent, crossings and signals at 20 per cent, bike infrastructure at 9 per cent and pedestrian improvements at 6 per cent.
Residents and community members are encouraged to learn more and share their feedback on this phase of improvements. They can:
Review the full project description and display boards to learn more about costs, infrastructure upgrades, road paving, and other project details.
Complete the short online survey available on the project page, including feedback on sections west of Admirals Avenue. Hard copies of the survey are also available at Esquimalt Municipal Hall (1229 Esquimalt Road), Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Attend the public open house on March 31 from 3:00–7:00 p.m. at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre.
Community input will help shape the final design for Phase 2 and ensure the project reflects local priorities and needs.
The survey is open now and closes April 5. The results will be presented to council this spring with the aim of beginning construction this summer.
For more information, visit EngagingEsquimalt.ca/EsquimaltRoad or contact Esquimalt Engineering at eng@esquimalt.ca or 250-414-7108 with your questions.
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Media contact
Tara Zajac
Manager of Communications
tara.zajac@esquimalt.ca
