No. Council has directed staff to bring back more information on revised design options and costs. No final construction decision has been made.
May 25, 2026 Council Meeting Update: Phillips Road–Throup Road Connection
At the Regular Council meeting on May 25, 2026, Council directed staff to report back on revised design options and costs for the planned road connection between Phillips Road and Throup Road. No final construction decision has been made. A report is anticipated by the end of June 2026.
Staff will review three possible road right-of-way widths for the middle portion of the connector (see map for location – CP5):
- 15.2-metre cross-section
- 20.0-metre cross-section
- 25.0-metre cross-section
No final decisions have been made. Council is considering options that balance transportation needs, project costs, affordability, safety, accessibility, and long-term infrastructure planning.
What is a road cross-section?
A road cross-section shows the width of a road corridor and what can fit within it. It includes the road itself, as well as space for sidewalks, pathways, utilities, drainage, lighting, landscaping, and other infrastructure.
A wider road cross-section can fit more infrastructure and more transportation options. A narrower cross-section may reduce some costs, but it can also limit space for features such as sidewalks, pathways, transit and school bus needs, utilities, drainage, lighting, landscaping, and future upgrades.
The District’s road design standards are outlined in the District’s Transportation Master Plan. Roads are grouped by type, and each type has a different design standard.
Road types include:
- Local roads are the roads people usually live on. They carry lower traffic volumes and mainly provide access to homes and nearby properties.
- Collector roads connect local roads to larger roads. They carry more traffic than local roads and may include features for walking, cycling, or other forms of active transportation.
- Arterial roads carry higher traffic volumes and connect larger areas of the community. They are designed to support a wider range of users and services, including vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, scooters, transit, school buses, and infrastructure needs.
Throup Road and Phillips Road are identified as arterial roads.
Project Cost, Phasing, and Borrowing
The full corridor project is estimated to cost approximately $50 million. As shown on the map, the project includes several connected sections that could be considered together or delivered in phases over time.
To move forward with a project of this scale, the District would need elector approval to borrow the required funds. At the May 25, 2026 meeting, Council indicated that while the District has the legal authority to use an alternative approval process, its preferred approach is a referendum so residents can make the decision directly.
Council also discussed the possibility of holding a non-binding community vote, called a plebiscite, to better understand community opinion before determining next steps. A plebiscite would gauge public views only. It would not authorize borrowing.
If Council wished to proceed with long-term borrowing after a plebiscite, elector approval would still be required. Council has indicated its preferred approach for borrowing would be a referendum, so residents could make that decision directly.
At this time, the District has not yet determined whether a borrowing referendum or non-binding plebiscite will be part of the October 2026 General Local Election. Council will consider next steps after receiving more information about grant funding, project costs, and design options.
Grant Status
The District is awaiting decisions on two major grant applications submitted to other orders of government that, if successful, could offset a portion of the project cost.
This information is important because it will help determine how much funding may need to be considered through a borrowing referendum.
Project Sections and Corridor Phases
The full corridor project is made up of three connected project sections, referred to as CP4, CP5, and CP6.
CP4 — Throup Road Corridor (West portion)
Road and corridor improvements extending from the Church–Throup roundabout to Charters Road.
- Distance: approximately 500 metres
- Road classification: arterial
- Right-of-way: 20 metres from the Church–Throup roundabout to Journey Middle School, and 25 metres from Journey Middle School to Charters Road.
CP5 — Throup Road Corridor (East portion)
Road and corridor improvement extending from Charters Road to Phillips Road. Current planning has identified a 25-metre right-of-way for CP5. The upcoming report will explore costs and design implications for 15.2-metre, 20.0-metre, and 25.0-metre options.
- Distance: approximately 500 metres
- Road classification: arterial
- Current planning right-of-way: 25 metres
- Options under review: 15.2 metres, 20.0 metres, and 25.0 metres
Project CP6 — Phillips Road Corridor
Improvements from Phillips Road at Highway 14 to a new roundabout behind the SEAPARC Leisure Complex, including upgraded parking and improved facility access.
- Distance: approximately 500 metres
- Road classification: arterial
- Right-of-way: 25 metres
Construction Options: One Project or Multiple Phases
Council is considering whether CP4, CP5, and CP6 should be constructed together or delivered as separate phases.
Constructing the projects separately could make the work easier to phase financially, but it would likely increase the total cost over time due to:
- Inflation and rising construction costs
- Repeated mobilization and setup costs for multiple contracts
- Additional project management and tendering costs
- Longer or repeated construction impacts on nearby neighbourhoods
Building the work as one larger project may reduce some duplication, but it would require a larger funding commitment upfront.
Potential Cost-Reduction Measures
Project costs could be reduced by removing or deferring some road features or transportation amenities. Some features may be possible to add later, but that will depend on the road right-of-way width secured now.
If reductions are required, Council may consider changes to features such as centre islands, landscaping, shared-use pathways, sidewalks, storm drainage, and curb and gutter. Each option involves trade-offs between cost, safety, accessibility, drainage, maintenance, and long-term transportation goals.
To stay informed, residents can follow Council meeting agendas and sign up for notifications through the District’s meeting portal. Council meetings can also be watched live or viewed later on the District’s YouTube channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Council approved the construction of the Phillips Road–Throup Road connection?
Why is the District reviewing different road widths?
Council has asked staff to explore whether a smaller or revised road design could reduce costs while still providing a functional connection between Phillips Road and Throup Road. The review will compare 15.2-metre, 20.0-metre, and 25.0-metre options.
Does a narrower road mean the project will be cheaper?
Generally, a narrower road corridor may reduce costs because it can require less land, material, and infrastructure. However, the final cost depends on many factors, including drainage, utilities, geotechnical conditions, road design, frontage improvements, and construction timing.
What features could be affected by a narrower road design?
A narrower road may limit the ability to include features such as sidewalks, shared-use pathways, landscaped medians, boulevards, parking, or enhanced stormwater infrastructure. It may reduce upfront construction costs, but could also make it more expensive or difficult to add these features later if traffic volumes, safety needs, or community expectations change.
The upcoming staff report will outline the options and trade-offs for Council’s consideration.
Why is the full project estimated at approximately $50 million?
This estimate was determined when the design was approximately 60% complete. The estimate is based on a 25-metre right-of-way with full amenities for CP4, CP5, and CP6.
In addition to road construction and corridor improvements, the project includes parking improvements, drainage, utilities, retaining walls, significant fill, and related works.
Would residents need to approve borrowing for the project?
For borrowing on this scale, elector approval would be required. Council indicated support for considering a referendum approach so residents could make the decision directly.
Is a referendum confirmed for the October 2026 General Local Election?
At this time, the District has not determined whether a referendum question will appear during the 2026 General Local Election.
The District is awaiting decisions on two major grant applications, and Council will also receive additional information through the upcoming CP5 road-width report before determining the next steps.
Could the District hold a plebiscite instead of a referendum?
Council discussed the possibility of holding a plebiscite, or non-binding vote, before making a final decision on the project. A plebiscite would not authorize borrowing. It would only help Council understand community views.
For a project of this scale, if the District needs to borrow funds, elector approval would still be required before long-term borrowing could proceed. Council has indicated that its preferred approach for borrowing would be a referendum, so residents can make that decision directly.
What happens if the District receives grant funding?
Grant funding could reduce the amount that would need to be borrowed or funded locally. Depending on the amount received and the project scope selected, Council may reconsider the timing, phasing, or scale of a potential referendum question.
What happens if the District does not receive grant funding?
If grant funding is not received, Council would need to consider whether to proceed, revise the scope, phase the work, defer the project, or seek elector approval for borrowing.
Could CP5 move ahead separately from CP4 and CP6?
Yes, that is one of the options under consideration. Council could consider advancing one section, multiple sections, or the full corridor project. However, phasing the work may increase total costs over time.
Why not build the project in smaller phases to make it more affordable?
Phasing can make a large project easier to manage financially in the short term, but it can also increase overall costs because each phase may require separate design work, tendering, mobilization, traffic management, and construction setup. Inflation can also increase costs between phases.
How would this project affect traffic?
The proposed connection is intended to improve network connectivity by creating a local east-west route through the town core that would run parallel to a portion of Highway 14. The route would provide another east-west connection between Phillips Road and West Coast Road, linking Phillips Road, Throup Road, Church Road, Wadams Way, and Grant Road.
Previous traffic modelling has suggested that up to approximately 30% of westbound Highway 14 traffic could divert at Phillips Road, depending on the final design and network conditions.
More detailed traffic impacts and benefits will depend on the design option selected.
Will sidewalks or bike facilities be included?
That has not been finalized. The upcoming report on CP5 will help Council understand what transportation features can be included within each road-width option and what the cost and safety trade-offs would be.
Residents can stay informed by following Council meeting agendas, watching Council meetings live or later on the District’s YouTube channel, and signing up for the District’s news feed or monthly newsletters at sooke.ca/subscribe.
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