There’s really no good reason for the Crofton ferry redevelopment project to now be several years behind its originally intended completion date.
We’re now hearing the summer of 2027 as the time it’ll all be done so that means work likely won’t even begin for another three years. That just does not make any sense.
Related story: Redevelopment of Crofton ferry terminal expected to be complete in 2027
COVID has delayed many things in the last two years, sure, but the affects to construction activity and infrastructure plans has been minimal.
We can grant BC Ferries a grace period for most of 2020 after there was so much uncertainty until the full impacts of COVID could be determined. But why things didn’t start moving forward again in 2021 is a mystery.
The Chemainus Road Corridor Upgrade continued basically without interruption so there’s no reason why the Crofton terminal redevelopment came to a standstill. Sure, Chemainus Road was already in the construction stage and the Crofton terminal wasn’t quite at that point, but had been heading in that direction rather quickly.
After much public consultation and the usual jockeying between the various levels of government and BC Ferries representatives themselves, the plan had been narrowed down to two concepts. The various features of each were being considered to come up with one consolidated plan.
So why didn’t that process continue so construction would be happening by now, especially considering the ever-increasing traffic problem along Chaplin Street in Crofton and the road leading to Vesuvius Bay on the Salt Spring Island side?
Apparently, there’s more consultations underway with First Nations, finalizing engineering designs, negotiating any lease or community partnership agreements and preparing the work packages for construction. The time for all that has already been far too long. Get on with it.
Remember, the process of creating the long-term plan for the Crofton terminal began in early 2019 so by the time all is said and done – assuming everything progresses without incident from here – will make it a project spanning eight years.
This is not just about the ferry service, but it also encompasses the boat launch, the parking area and the waterfront park that’s such a huge beautification project for the Crofton community. The wait has been far too long.