Starting August 5, new road safety improvements will begin in Courtenay to help slow traffic and reduce accidents. City workers and hired contractors will build a small roundabout and new median islands at the intersection of Back Road and Valley View Drive. They will also install a 150-metre guardrail along Back Road.
The work is set to continue until August 21, if weather allows. During this time, most traffic will still be able to pass through the area in both directions. However, drivers may face short delays, as parts of the road will sometimes switch to single-lane traffic.
People driving through the area are asked to go slow and be careful, especially near the workers and equipment. This will help keep everyone safe during the project.
On some nights, Valley View Drive will be fully closed at the intersection with Back Road. These closures will happen on August 14, 15, and from August 18 to 21. Signs will direct traffic along a detour using Hobson Avenue during these closures.
The main goal of this project is to make the area safer for everyone. The changes are meant to lower driving speeds and reduce the number of crashes in this part of Courtenay. The upgrades are based on a full study of traffic patterns, speeds, and the current road layout.
This road safety work is not happening by chance. It’s one of the key suggestions from a traffic study done after people living on Back Road asked the City to take action. Many locals had been concerned about fast cars and safety risks in the area.
The City listened and took steps. Officials launched a traffic study focused on Back Road. That study followed the rules of Courtenay’s new Traffic Calming Guide and Policy, which explains how residents can request changes and how the City decides which projects to approve. It helps make sure that traffic issues are handled fairly and based on facts.
The guide also gives clear steps for residents to follow if they feel unsafe because of traffic in their area. It helps the City judge each request using the same standards, like how many cars use the road, how fast they go, and whether there have been crashes.
In this case, the study showed that action was needed. So, the City approved the safety project and is now moving forward to make the area safer.
The City of Courtenay is also working with the Comox Valley Regional District’s Sewer Conveyance Project team. They are making sure that both teams coordinate their plans so that traffic keeps flowing as smoothly as possible during the upgrades.
People in Courtenay can expect some changes to traffic while the work is being done. But the City says the results will be worth it. Once the new roundabout and guardrails are in place, drivers and walkers alike should feel safer using the road.
These types of projects are part of Courtenay’s larger plan to improve traffic safety across the city. By listening to residents, studying traffic issues closely, and using proven safety tools, the City is working to make local roads safer for everyone.
