Speeds are a major factor in creating a pedestrian and bike friendly environment as well as improving road safety and neighbourhood livability.
Speed reduction in key areas was identified the township's recent Active Transportation Network Plan. The township is looking to reduce speed limits on Major Roads to 40km/hr, and all other roads to 30km/hr, with the following exceptions:
- Colville Rd. between Admirals Rd. & Tillicum Rd. to be 40km/hr;
- Tillicum Rd. between Transfer St. & Colville Rd. to be 40km/hr;
- Admirals Rd. between Esquimalt Rd. & Lyall St. to be 30km/hr;
- Lampson St. between Esquimalt Rd. & Lyall St. to be 30km/hr.
The plan is to install new speed limit signs by prioritizing the signs over the next 3 years, starting with gateways & major roads.
There are also traffic calming infrastructure considerations to help encourage slower driving speeds.
To gather public input on the overall plan, the exceptions as well as funding priorities for new infrastructure, residents and business owners are invited to share their thoughts in a short survey.
Take the survey and learn more about the plan
Traffic in Esquimalt
Roads with the highest traffic volumes are those classified as ‘Major Roads’ in the Township’s road network. These include Admirals Road, Craigflower Road, Esquimalt Road, Lampson Street, and Tillicum Road.
Volumes on each of these roads exceed 10,000 vehicles per day. Tillicum Road and sections of Esquimalt Road see over 15,000 vehicles per day, which may be attributed to the fact that both corridors see a significant amount of intermunicipal traffic between the City of Victoria and District of Saanich. Admirals Road is another example of a corridor with high traffic volumes that are attributed to the commute trips for employees working at DND and the Shipyards / Graving Dock.
In the region
Neighbouring municipalities of Saanich and Victoria have also lowered speed limits in specific areas. The proposed changes for Esquimalt are in line with the growing regional approach to reduce some speeds.
Even though vehicle speed does not always cause crashes, it usually determines the severity of a crash.
More information
- See our Active Transportation Network Plan summary with infographics
Read the full Active Transportation Network Plan.
- Read Esquimalt's Active Transportation Network Plan Baseline Conditions Report