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Victoria to Esquimalt Cable Replacement Project

Floating construction barge carrying heavy equipment.
May 20 photo of barges and equipment getting ready to begin the marine work.

This emergency project replaces an existing underground, mineral oil-insulated transmission cable that's at the end of its serviceable life.

In August 2023, a circuit failed in Arbutus Park near the shoreline of the Gorge Waterway and Cecelia Creek, and during its repair we found widespread corrosion on the outer sheath of the cables. We started construction in early 2025 and plan to have the new cable in-service in fall 2026.

The new cable will help maintain transmission system reliability with a higher electricity capacity and improved seismic resiliency. It will also be oil-free, making it better for the environment.
 

What's new

May 2026

We've posted our latest community construction report for the Victoria to Esquimalt Cable Replacement Project. The May 2026 report [PDF, 10.3 MB] covers the project's status and activities, construction schedule and photos for Gorge Waterway, Viaduct Park, Banfield Park, Dunedin Street, and the Hereward, Devonshire, Pine, and Dominion intersection. The community construction reports are issued every month.

A media notice was issued on May 15 announcing the start of marine work in the Gorge Waterway to September 30, as well as upcoming detours on the Galloping Goose Regional Trail and the Banfield Park Trail.

Refer to the Galloping Goose Regional Trail detour notice [PDF, 123 KB], and northbound detour map [PDF, 13.4 MB] and southbound detour map [PDF, 13.4 MB], beginning June 1, 2026.

Refer to the Banfield Park Trail detour map [PDF, 13.4 MB], planned to begin on June 15, 2026.

What we're doing

We're constructing an oil-free cable within a duct bank to replace an existing direct-buried cable filled with mineral oil.

The existing underground cable will be removed once the new cable is in-service.

Why we're doing it

The Greater Victoria area has four transmission circuits that serve about 160,000 BC Hydro customers. Two of those circuits have either been upgraded or are in satisfactory condition. 

One circuit that was installed in 1980 has widespread cable corrosion, which was discovered during an August 2023 cable failure and repair beside the Gorge Waterway. This emergency project will replace that cable with the latest technology to ensure safety and reliability for decades.

The last Greater Victoria transmission circuit (running from Victoria to Saanich) is at moderate risk of failure. A separate project is underway to replace that circuit by 2028.

 

Communities affected

This project is about 2.7 kilometres long and runs between the Horsey Substation off Topaz Avenue, within the City of Victoria, and the Esquimalt Substation off Dominion Street, within the Township of Esquimalt. The route includes a submarine crossing along the bottom of the Gorge Waterway.

The project is located within the territories of Cowichan Tribes, Esquimalt Nation, Halalt First Nation, Lake Cowichan First Nation, Lyackson First Nation, Pauquachin First Nation, Penelakut Tribe, Songhees Nation, Stz'uminus First Nation, Tsartlip First Nation, Tsawout First Nation, and Tseycum First Nation. BC Hydro has engaged these communities and will continue to work with them throughout the project.

We will continue to consult with First Nations and engage with the Victoria and Esquimalt communities, including local governments, government agencies, neighbourhood associations, environmental groups, business organizations, and the general public.
 

Victoria to Esquimalt cable replacement project map

Victoria to Esquimalt cable replacement project map

Select the project map [PDF, 800 KB] to view it at a larger size.

Horsey Substation in Victoria
Horsey Substation in Victoria
Esquimalt Substation in Esquimalt
Esquimalt Substation in Esquimalt

Schedule

Dates Activities
Winter 2023 Project Launch
Fall 2023 to fall 2024 Engineering and environmental studies
Fall 2023 to spring 2025 Civil and cable design
Spring 2025 Construction starts along city streets
Summer 2026 Construction starts in Gorge Waterway
Fall 2026 Cable in-service

 

Reports and documents

2026 materials and notifications

Get in touch

If you'd like to learn more about the project, please contact us at:

Email: steve.watson@bchydro.com
Phone: 250 616 9888