Wednesday November 27, 2019 ~ LANGFORD
============= As posted Thursday November 28, 2019:
[ Update Thursday November 28: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will be reinstating the median/road edge barriers hit by the large tree. from 7:15 to 7:45 pm this evening. The Northbound lane is expected to close for approximately 15 minutes during this time. ]
============= As posted Wednesday November 27, 2019:
by Mary P Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
The high winds and extreme cold of the last 24 hours may have been too much on the tail end of rainy days for at least one tree along Highway 1 that fell onto the road near West Shore Parkway this evening Wednesday November 27 around 6:20 pm.
The northbound lane was closed off by Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure personnel while they assessed whether the fallen tree could be removed from the road as-is or whether it needed to be cut. As of 6:45 pm it was determined that tree removal will take a few hours. The tree is about 100 ft long and is hanging off a cliff, says City of Langford Engineering.
West Shore Voice News went out in the cold to check the scene. Still as of 7:30 pm traffic was still considerably backed up in the northbound lane awaiting access through the West Shore Parkway intersection to head up to the Malahat and beyond. But shortly after that, northbound traffic opened up to one lane alternating.
As well, traffic was backed up on West Shore Parkway to about the roundabout at Amy Road; traffic enforcement was parked on the roundabout itself, with the officer observing traffic and offering instructions for motorists waiting to get onto Highway 1 from West Shore Parkway. Many people were waiting in their vehicles along Amy Road or parked in the commercial services area (Shell Gas Station, Tim Hortons).
For the most part people were patient and waiting in their cars on a cold night.
Motorists on Highway 1 approaching from Victoria/Saanich who are heading northbound toward Langford and beyond can exit at Millstream Road (and head into Langford or through to Highway 14.
Traffic can divert downhill on Finlayson Arm Road, says the City of Langford. Please note that this road is single lane traffic use with caution.