July 13, 2026 Council Meeting Update: Phillips Road-Throup Road Connection

At its July 13, 2026 Regular Council meeting, Sooke Council selected a preferred 25-metre right of way for CP5 (see map). CP5 is the section of the proposed Phillips Road–Throup Road connection between Charters Road and Phillips Road.

Council considered the project at two consecutive meetings. Its discussions included:

• The approximately $50-million estimate for the broader CP4, CP5 and CP6 project. 
• Potential grant funding and borrowing requirements.
• Building the project in smaller sections, such as CP5, then CP4 or CP6.
• Reducing parts of the design to lower costs.
• The benefits and trade-offs of narrower options for CP5.

After considering these options, Council directed that the CP5 design be completed using the 25-metre arterial-road standard in the District’s Transportation Master Plan.

This decision sets the design direction for CP5. It does not approve construction, property acquisition or borrowing.

Supporting Sooke’s Future Transportation Network

The proposed connection is an important part of Sooke’s future transportation network. It is intended to improve connections and help meet future travel needs for people driving, taking transit, cycling, walking and using mobility devices.

The Transportation Master Plan identifies Throup Road and Phillips Road as arterial roads. Arterial roads carry more traffic, connect larger areas of the community and provide space for different types of travel and infrastructure.

Council recognizes both the significant cost of this project and the affordability pressures facing many residents. Its decisions must balance Sooke’s long-term transportation needs with responsible financial planning.

Project Sections

The current project includes three connected sections. Each is approximately 500 metres long.

• CP4 – Throup Road West: CP4 extends from the Church–Throup roundabout to Charters Road.
  • In alignment with the Transportation Master Plan, it would include multi-modal transportation improvements and could include parking improvements in collaboration with Sooke School District 62
• CP5 – Throup Road East: CP5 extends from Charters Road to Phillips Road, and was the focus of the July 13, 2026 meeting.
  • CP5 is the main missing connection in the corridor. Although it is only one part of the larger project, it remains technically challenging and costly because of the steep terrain and limited existing infrastructure.
  • The area currently contains a trail used by residents and students and connects with nearby SEAPARC lands, parks and cycling routes. Building a road through this area would require significant grading, fill, drainage, retaining structures, utilities and other infrastructure. As a result, reducing the length of the project would not produce a proportionate reduction in cost.
• CP6 – Phillips Road: CP6 extends along Phillips Road from Highway 14 to the proposed roundabout behind SEAPARC.
  • In alignment with the Transportation Master Plan, it would include multi-modal transportation improvements.
  • The proposed work could include parking and access improvements for SEAPARC and the Museum.

Could the Project Be Built in Phases?

CP4, CP5 and CP6 could be constructed together or in phases. This would depend on available funding, updated costs and future Council direction.

Building one section at a time could reduce the amount of funding and borrowing required at the beginning of the project. However, phasing could increase the total cost over time because of:

• Inflation.
• Repeated contractor setup and mobilization.
• Separate procurement processes.
•  Additional project-management costs.
• Longer or repeated construction impacts.

Building all three sections together could reduce some of these repeated costs but would require a larger upfront investment.

What a 25-Metre Right of Way Means

A right of way is the full area of land reserved for transportation infrastructure. It can include:

• The travelled roadway.
• Sidewalks and cycling facilities.
• Boulevards and landscaping.
• Utilities and lighting.
• Drainage infrastructure.
• Retaining structures.
• Space for future improvements.

Council considered 15.2-, 20- and 25-metre options for CP5. A narrower corridor could reduce some initial land and construction requirements. However, it could also limit the space available for active transportation, drainage, utilities, lighting, landscaping and future improvements.

Council selected the 25-metre right of way identified for an arterial road in the Transportation Master Plan. This allows the design to follow a consistent long-term standard. A future Council will still decide what is constructed and when.

A 25-metre right of way does not mean the entire area will be paved or that every part of the design will be built immediately.

As the authorized design work is completed, the District will continue to review the roadway alignment, grading, drainage, retaining structures and other engineering measures. The goal is to minimize impacts wherever practical.

Project Costs, Grants and Borrowing

The broader CP4–CP6 project is currently estimated to cost approximately $50 million.

Council considered whether dividing the project into smaller sections or reducing parts of the Transportation Master Plan design could lower costs. A smaller or phased project could reduce the initial funding requirement but may cost more over time.

The District is awaiting decisions on major grant applications that could cover part of the project cost. Even if the District receives grant funding, long-term borrowing would likely still be required to complete the broader project.

The amount of borrowing cannot be determined until there is clearer information about:

• The project scope and phasing.
• Updated project costs.
• Confirmed grant funding.
• Potential financial impacts.
• The benefits, impacts and trade-offs of each option.

For these reasons, the District will not include a borrowing question for this project on the ballot during the October 17, 2026 General Local Election.

Under the Community Charter, elector approval would be required before the District could proceed with long-term borrowing. Council previously indicated a preference for seeking approval through a referendum so electors could decide directly. A future Council would determine the timing and approval process.

Relationship to Highway 14

The Phillips Road–Throup Road connection is intended to complement, not replace, improvements to Highway 14.

Previous traffic modelling suggests that up to approximately 30 per cent of westbound Highway 14 traffic could divert at Phillips Road.

The Ministry of Transportation and Transit is planning intersection improvements at Idlemore Road and Highway 14. The District is also discussing other possible improvements with the Ministry, such as extending the existing right-turn lane from the Sooke River Bridge to Phillips Road if the Throup Connector project proceeds.[JM1] [CM2] 

Together, these projects are intended to improve connections, provide more route options and support more reliable travel throughout Sooke.

Next Steps

Council’s July 13 decision allows the District to complete the CP5 design using the 25-metre arterial-road standard in the Transportation Master Plan.

As the current Council term ends, staff will:

• Complete the authorized design work.
• Monitor relevant grant programs.
• Prepare updated project information for the incoming Council.

Information about the design, costs, funding opportunities and project options will be provided during Council orientation following the October 17, 2026 General Local Election.

Beyond this work, the project will not advance unless it is directed and prioritized by the next Council. Further Council decisions would be required before:

• Formal property negotiations or land acquisition.
• Construction of CP4, CP5 or CP6.
• Selecting a phased or full-corridor approach.
• Confirming the project scope and timing.
• Proceeding with long-term borrowing and elector approval.

The next Council will decide whether and how to advance the project after considering updated costs, potential grant funding, affordability and other community priorities.

If the necessary approvals are obtained and Council authorizes construction, the work would be awarded through a competitive public procurement process open to qualified contractors.

The complete parallel route would ultimately provide an east–west connection between Phillips Road and West Coast Road through Throup Road, Church Road, Wadams Way and Grant Road.

Overview of the Parallel Connector, including conceptual project phases, related transportation improvements completed or designed between 2021 and 2025, and key planning milestones from 2000 to 2025 - click map to enlarge.