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Home › Projects & operations › Projects › Victoria to Esquimalt Cable Replacement Project

Victoria to Esquimalt Cable Replacement Project

Banfield Park

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 are currently working on the cable placement design, sourcing the new cables, and working to start construction in early 2025.

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

October 2025

We've posted our sixth community construction report for the Victoria to Esquimalt Cable Replacement Project. The October 2025 report [PDF, 9.4 MB] covers the project's status and activities, construction schedule, photos, traffic management and a temporary closure and detour of the Galloping Goose Trail. The community construction reports will be issued every month.

Trail closure

There will be a temporary closure of Galloping Goose Trail from November 17 to December 19, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. A detour around Viaduct Park will be in place. The detour includes Waterfront Crescent, Jutland Road, Cecelia Road, and Napier Lane through Cecilia Ravine Bike Park. Pedestrian and bike users should plan ahead and use caution. Wayward signage will be in place. The trail will be open on weekends.

The detour is required for public and worker safety during piling work within Viaduct Park to enable cable infrastructure placement. Improvements along the trail detour route, for all ages and abilities, mainly at Napier Lane and Cecelia Ravine Bike Park, will be made prior to November 17. The detour route was coordinated with the Capital Regional District and City of Victoria.

See the Galloping Goose Trail detour northbound route [PDF, 13.4 MB] and southbound route [PDF, 13.4 MB]. These signs will be in place from November 3 through December 19.

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

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

 

Reports and documents

Contact us

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

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