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Highway 14 repair contracted

Road work on the switchbacks at Sombrio on Hwy. 14 scheduled to begin

The nasty part of Highway 14 will soon be just a memory and Port Renfrew will rock, so say Rose Betsworth and Mike Hicks.

On Thursday, April 5 it was announced that work would begin on a two-span bridge on Highway 14 at Sombrio along with 1.2 km of approach road work, as well as another 5.4 km of surface deformation repairs. The cost of the project is $9,817,700 and the contract was awarded to

Windley Contracting Ltd. out of Nanaimo.

"The nasty part of Hwy. 14, including the switch back will soon be a memory and Port Renfrew will be the one to benefit," says Rose Betsworth, president of the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce.

Juan de Fuca Electoral Area Regional Director Mike Hicks says, "it's wonderful. It's as simple as that."

He said they have done some pretty nice improvements along the road, including two electronic signs at the switchbacks. The "terrible curves" have been the scene of many motorcycle and vehicle accidents, said Hicks, and this construction will also allow people to haul their boats to Port Renfrew much easier.

"After this work is completed, the highway between Sooke and Port Renfrew will rival the highway to Whistler for natural beauty and a first class recreational destination at the end. Port Renfrew will absolutely rock!" Hicks said.

The work will begin in May 2012 and the entire project finish in May 2014.