Road Maintenance

• Maintained by Victoria Contracting (Ansan Group)
• Includes most neighbourhood streets and municipal roadways
• To report an issue: Contact the District at 250-642-1634

Certain roads in Sooke are maintained by the BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT).
These include:

• Highway 14
• The Edward Milne Community School frontage road
• Portions of Idlemore Road

Maintenance contractor: Emcon Services

• To report an issue: 1-866-353-3136

Some roads within Sooke - typically those inside townhouse complexes, bare-land stratas, gated communities, or private developments - are privately owned and maintained by a strata corporation or property owner.

• These roads are not maintained by the District.
• For concerns or maintenance requests, please contact your strata council or property management company.

Every May, the District coordinates our annual street sweeping program.

Street sweeping:

• Removes debris, sand, and other materials that can create hazards for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.
• Keeps neighbourhoods cleaner and improves the appearance of our streets.
• Helps extend the life of pavement by reducing wear from abrasive materials, which can lower long-term repair costs.

This proactive maintenance helps keep roads safer and supports a cleaner, more attractive community.

Each summer, the District coordinates an annual brush cutting program along municipal roads.

Brush cutting includes mowing, chopping, and chipping vegetation to:

• Maintain sightlines for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians
• Keep road shoulders and ditches clear
• Reduce fire risk in some areas

Work is completed over a four-week period, and drivers may experience minor delays. Your patience while this important safety work is completed is appreciated.

The annual line painting program refreshes road markings on District roads each year, usually in the late summer.

Key points:

• Work is typically completed over several days.
• Contractors often work during the evening and early morning to reduce traffic impacts, with some daytime work where needed.
• Road markings in Sooke follow the BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit Manual of Standard Traffic Signs and Pavement Markings.

Each year, work is organized into two main tasks:

1. Curbs and symbols – crosswalks, stop bars, arrows, and other symbols.
2. Long lines – centerlines and edge (fog) lines.

Streetlights help keep our roads, intersections, and neighbourhoods safe. The District maintains streetlights along municipal roads, ensuring they remain in good working condition through routine inspections and repairs.

The District is responsible for streetlights located along municipal streets. Maintenance activities include:

• Replacing burnt-out bulbs
• Repairing damaged fixtures
• Addressing wiring or power issues
• Responding to lights that flicker, stay on during the day, or cycle on and off

These inspections occur annually, with additional repairs scheduled as issues are reported by residents or noted by staff and contractors.

If you notice a streetlight that is burnt out, flickering, damaged, or staying on during daylight hours, the best way to let us know is by submitting a Service Request. Including details such as the closest address or intersection and a photo helps crews assess and respond more efficiently.

As with other maintenance activities, working with residents to identify issues ensures District resources are directed where they make the biggest difference.

When cold weather or snow is expected:

• Crews work around the clock, as needed, to pre-treat roads with anti-icing brine.
• Brine helps reduce the bond between snow/ice and the pavement, making it easier to plow and improving traction.
• Brine can remain effective on the road for several days, depending on traffic and weather conditions.

Even with brine and plowing, roads may still be slippery. Please drive with caution and adjust to conditions.

When significant snowfall is expected or occurring, albeit not common in Sooke, snow and ice control is prioritized to keep the road network functioning for the greatest number of people.

Victoria Contracting focuses first on:

• Bus routes
• School zones
• Critical intersections and main collector roads

Key points:

• The goal is to ensure priority routes are safe and passable.
• Local (residential) roads may not be cleared right away.
• During the first pass, some local roads may be plowed to accommodate single-lane traffic only. These roads may be revisited for further clearing once priority routes are reasonably maintained.
• Staffing levels, equipment availability, and the severity and duration of a storm can affect how quickly all roads are serviced.

If you have a specific safety concern (for example, black ice on a steep hill or sharp curve), please contact the District of Sooke at 250-642-1634.

Brine and other treatments are used to improve traction and support plowing:

• Brine (anti-icing solution) is applied before and during forecasted weather events to minimize slippery conditions and help with snow and ice removal.
• Roads may also be treated with sand or other abrasives in targeted locations such as hills, curves, and intersections.

Even with these treatments, winter roads will not be bare and dry. Drivers should:

• Slow down
• Increase following distance
• Use winter tires
• Avoid sudden braking or lane changes

Residents can play an important role in keeping the community safe during winter weather:

• Only drive if your vehicle is winter-ready
  • Equip your vehicle with good winter tires.
  • Allow extra time and space on the road.
• Help plow crews by managing driveway snow
  • When shovelling, avoid pushing snow back onto the roadway.
  • Plow operators constantly adjust blades to reduce snow in driveways and minimize salt on vehicles, but some windrow (ridge of snow) is unavoidable.
• Clear catch basins
  • As snow begins to melt, keep nearby catch basins clear of snow and debris to help prevent localized flooding.
• Check on your neighbours
  • In extreme weather, a quick check-in can make a big difference, especially for seniors, people with disabilities, or those who may have difficulty getting out.

Residents and business owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks that border their property.

Please:

• Clear snow and apply sand or ice melt as needed.
• Create a safe path wide enough for people using mobility aids, strollers, or walking side-by-side.

Being a good neighbour by keeping sidewalks clear helps everyone move safely around the community.

Snow clearing levels are directly connected to the resources (budget, staff, and equipment) available.

If increasing snow removal services is a priority for you:

• Share your feedback through the Annual Budget Survey, typically open mid-June to mid-August each year.
• Participate in budget engagement opportunities and information stations.

To date, feedback from participants has generally indicated that limited resources may be better allocated to other priorities, but budget decisions are revisited annually based on community input and Council direction.

Most neighbourhood streets and local municipal roads are maintained by the District of Sooke, while Highway 14, portions of Idlemore Road, and the Edward Milne frontage road are maintained by the Province through Emcon Services. Some roads within townhouse complexes or private developments may also be maintained by a strata corporation.

Knowing who maintains the road helps ensure your request goes directly to the right agency. This means faster results for you and helps the District use its resources efficiently by focusing on the roads we are responsible for. If you’re unsure, you’re always welcome to contact us - we’ll help point you in the right direction.

The District can only maintain and repair roads that fall under our jurisdiction. Provincial roads, like Highway 14, portions of Idlemore Road, and the Edward Milne frontage road, are owned and managed by the Province. Similarly, roads within strata or private developments are the responsibility of the property owner or strata corporation.

While we can’t complete work on roads we don’t manage, we’re always happy to help clarify who you should contact. Directing your request to the right agency ensures it’s handled promptly and helps all organizations use their resources where they’re most effective - ultimately resulting in faster service and better outcomes for residents.

Once you submit a request, you will receive an acknowledgement. Staff review the photo and description, assign it to the appropriate contractor or maintenance team, and plan a field inspection or repair. Response times vary depending on type of issue, weather, and priorities.

During snow or ice events, crews focus first on keeping bus routes, school zones, and major collector roads safe and passable. Local residential streets may receive only an initial single-lane pass and are revisited once priority routes are under control. Equipment availability, staffing levels, and ongoing weather conditions all affect how quickly crews can reach every road.

The good news is that Sooke’s mild coastal climate means snow usually doesn’t stick around as long as it does in many other parts of Canada. Because winter storms here tend to be short-lived, it’s also not uncommon for the community (and the region) to slow down, stay home when possible, and give crews and first responds room to work during significant snow events.

Residents play an important role in keeping our transportation network safe and functioning well throughout the year. You can help by:

• Keeping sidewalks bordering your property clear and accessible, whether that means removing snow and ice in winter or trimming vegetation that encroaches onto walkways.
• Avoiding actions that create hazards, such as pushing driveway snow back onto the roadway or leaving yard waste, rocks, or soil near the road edge.
• Clearing nearby catch basins to help prevent flooding during heavy rain or as snow melts.
• Driving according to conditions—slowing down in wet weather, using winter tires in colder months, and giving crews space to work.
• Reporting road or sidewalk hazards through a Service Request — including a photo helps our team assess and respond more efficiently.

Together, these small actions help improve safety, protect infrastructure, and make the best use of community resources.

You can report concerns such as potholes, damaged or missing signs, unsafe shoulders, blocked drainage courses, roadway debris (sand, litter, or spills), overgrown vegetation that affects sightlines, and graffiti on public infrastructure.

While preventative maintenance is ideal, it’s not always realistic for a community of our size with limited resources. By working with residents to identify concerns early, we can direct maintenance efforts where they will make the biggest impact. Reporting issues, especially with a photo, helps us respond more quickly, prioritize effectively, and ensure District resources are used where they’re needed most.

Yes - service levels are shaped by annual budgets and community input. If you’d like to see more frequent sweeping, brushing, or other enhancements, please share your priorities through the annual budget survey (mid-June to mid-August) and at budget engagement opportunities.

While we may not be able to increase service levels right away, your feedback helps us understand community priorities and ensures these needs are considered during budget discussions. This is when the District can most effectively plan for and address changes to service levels, ensuring resources are used responsibly and where they will have the greatest impact.