Trail users on the Galloping Goose Regional Trail will need to take a short detour starting July 14 as paving work gets underway between the new pedestrian bridge and Belmont Road at Ocean Boulevard. The Capital Regional District (CRD) will close that section of the popular multi-use path from 9am to 3pm daily through July 16, with a signed detour along Ocean Boulevard guiding cyclists and pedestrians around the work zone.
The trail advisory issued by the City of Colwood on July 7 notes that the CRD has hired Capital City Paving for the work. Trail users should expect traffic control personnel on site to help them navigate the temporary route. The detour adds only a short on-road segment, keeping the disruption minimal for the roughly 1,000 people who use the trail each day near Wale Road.
The paving comes just three months after the official opening of the new $6.3-million Galloping Goose Bridge on April 9. That 38-metre long, four-metre wide bridge carries trail users safely over Sooke Road, eliminating a long-standing conflict point with vehicle traffic. Funding came from all three levels of government—more than $1.9 million from the federal government and over $1.6 million from the province through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, with the remainder from municipal contributions.
The new bridge filled a critical gap in the 55-kilometre regional trail that connects Victoria to Sooke. The current paving work is the next step toward fully integrating the bridge approaches and delivering a smoother surface for commuters and recreational users alike.
Colwood Mayor Doug Kobayashi has described the Goose as a vital link for the West Shore. Daily counters on the trail back that up, showing steady foot and bike traffic through the community. While the upcoming closures are brief and limited to mid-day hours, trail users are advised to plan for a few extra minutes and follow the marked detour.
