'An accident waiting to happen': Changes come to Victoria's Blanshard Street

For those who frequent downtown Victoria, the past few months have come with a new soundtrack.

Honking and occasional shouting have become part of the routine on Blanshard Street, where recent upgrades are leaving some residents frustrated and others waiting to see if time smooths things out.

In June, the City of Victoria completed work along Blanshard from Caledonia Avenue to Fort Street.

The project, which began in July 2024, included road repaving, traffic signal upgrades, new dedicated left-turn lanes, protected bike lanes on each side of the street, upgraded crosswalks, accessible parking, lighting improvements and landscaping.

The corridor was identified in the city’s 2022–2026 Strategic Plan as a priority for expanding the all ages and abilities cycling network.

The goal, city