The B.C. government is moving ahead rapidly with plans for a long-awaited overpass to ease congestion at McKenzie Avenue and the Trans-Canada Highway, Transportation Minister Todd Stone has told the legislature.

“The No. 1 bottleneck in British Columbia, outside of the George Massey Tunnel, is right here on Vancouver Island at that particular location, at McKenzie,” he said.

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Stone said engineering and technical work is underway to identify possible options for an interchange.

Once the province has something to present, it will consult closely with the District of Saanich and other partners, he said in response to a question from NDP MLA Rob Fleming.

“I actually met with Mayor [Richard] Atwell only a couple of weeks ago, made that commitment to him face to face,” Stone said.

“We are moving, I believe, at a fairly rapid pace with respect to this particular project.”

Saanich wrote to Stone this year asking him to set up a working group of citizens and experts to assist with planning. A similar group helped drive improvements to the intersection of Sayward Road and the Patricia Bay Highway.

“We’re hoping to replicate that model that brings the community interests and concerns to the table and to try to raise the priority level of this project,” said Atwell, who described his initial meeting with Stone as “very positive.”

The government has indicated previously that the McKenzie interchange could cost from $80 million to $100 million, and Stone said he has flagged the project as requiring support from the Building Canada Fund.

“I have indicated it’s a priority for British Columbia, and we’re strongly encouraging the federal government to come to the table to participate as a funding partner on this particular project,” he said.

Bruce Carter, chief executive officer of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, said that, while he appreciates what the government is doing behind the scenes, he’ll believe the project is moving forward when there is a funding announcement.

“I’m from the business world,” he said. “If things were moving quickly, Belleville Terminal and McKenzie interchange would have been done years ago.”

Fleming, who represents Victoria-Swan Lake, said he wanted a time commitment from Stone.

“ ‘Real soon’ isn’t a timeline,” he said. “All I got from the minister, really, was an acknowledgment that he’s aware of the issue and it’s on his radar. So we’ll keep pushing.”

He suggested the Insurance Corporation of B.C. should contribute to the project as a way to eliminate a dangerous intersection. “That might make this move more quickly,” he said. “They’re obviously paying out a lot of claims each year.”

ICBC ranks the intersection of Admirals Road, McKenzie Avenue and the Trans-Canada Highway as the most dangerous on Vancouver Island, with 79 crashes in 2013 — 19 more than the next highest total.

Stone said people as far north as Courtenay have cited the need for a McKenzie interchange as a top priority for the Island.

“I think that also represents just how significant a project this will be and how much impact it will have on residents, not just in Greater Victoria but right up Vancouver Island,” he said.

“It’s important from a quality-of-life perspective. People spend way too much time sitting in their vehicles. It’s important for safety, and it’s also important for the economy.”

lkines@timescolonist.com