June 30, 2026
Horseshoe Bay/Langdale Infrastructure Program reaches major milestone as multi-year improvements continue
Summary- BC Ferries has completed a significant phase of the Horseshoe Bay/Langdale Infrastructure Program, including the decommissioning of most of the elevated deck structure and critical transfer deck life extension work at Horseshoe Bay.
- Additional staging lanes have returned to service in time for the busy summer travel season, increasing available terminal space and supporting smoother terminal operations.
- Operational measures introduced during construction helped improve traffic flow and on-time performance while maintaining full sailing schedules and vessel capacity throughout a major phase of the project.
VICTORIA, BC – BC Ferries has reached a major milestone in the multi-year Horseshoe Bay/Langdale Infrastructure Program with the completion of a significant phase of work at the Horseshoe Bay terminal.
With a significant phase of work now complete, BC Ferries is seeing the results of the operational approach used to support construction at Horseshoe Bay. Operational measures – including advance booking requirements, traffic management measures and changes to terminal operations – have helped BC Ferries manage terminal capacity and traffic flow while work continued at one of its busiest terminals. Between October 2025 and April 2026, on-time performance on the Horseshoe Bay–Departure Bay route was 9.5 per cent higher than during the same period the previous year. Over that same period, BC Ferries also saw improvements on the routes serving Langdale and Bowen Island as terminal congestion eased.
"We know customers have adapted to a number of changes while this work has been underway, and we appreciate the patience they've shown throughout the project," said Melanie Lucia, Vice President, Customer Experience. "The improvements we're seeing in on-time performance and the return of terminal capacity ahead of summer are meaningful benefits for the customers and communities that rely on these routes every day."
The milestone includes the successful decommissioning of most of the terminal's elevated deck structure as part of planned infrastructure renewal work, along with completion of critical transfer deck life extension work. To safely complete this phase while maintaining service to Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and Bowen Island, vehicle staging capacity at Horseshoe Bay was temporarily reduced by approximately 25 per cent last fall. With the work now complete, several lower-level staging lanes have returned to regular operations ahead of the busy summer travel season, increasing available terminal space and supporting smoother terminal operations.
"This is the most significant milestone we've reached since construction began," said Stephen Jones, Vice President, Engineering. "Completing this phase of work while maintaining full service and vessel capacity required significant planning and coordination. The operational changes introduced to support construction helped us keep the terminal functioning efficiently during a very complex project, and we expect customers to see further benefits as additional terminal capacity returns ahead of the busy summer season."
While some additional staging space has returned to service, construction activities continue and the terminal has not yet returned to its full operating configuration. As a result, some operational measures introduced during construction, including advance booking requirements on the Horseshoe Bay–Departure Bay route, remain in place.
The advance booking requirement was introduced to help manage terminal capacity during construction, support safe and orderly terminal operations, and reduce the likelihood of traffic backups affecting Highway 1, local roads and access to the terminal. Advance bookings also help BC Ferries communicate directly with customers about important travel updates, including delays, disruptions and other service-related information.
Advance booking remains required for all vehicles travelling from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay (Nanaimo). For travel from Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay, reservations are recommended but not required. Reservations are also not required for vehicles travelling between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale or Bowen Island. Foot passengers can continue to travel on all routes without a reservation.
Customers travelling through Horseshoe Bay this summer are also encouraged to pay close attention to terminal signage and lane assignments, as some staging areas have changed following the return of additional terminal capacity.
The Horseshoe Bay/Langdale Infrastructure Program is a multi-year investment designed to support safety, resilience and operational efficiency at one of BC Ferries' busiest terminals. Customers can see the transformation for themselves through a timelapse video that captures the scale of the work completed to date at Horseshoe Bay.
Additional work remains ahead and is currently scheduled to recommence following the busy summer season, including future improvements at both Horseshoe Bay and Langdale as the broader program continues. The work is intended to support the terminal’s continued ability to safely and reliably serve the high volume of customers who travel through Horseshoe Bay each year and maintain important connections for coastal communities.
To view a timelapse of construction progress and learn more about the project, visit bcferries.com/hsb-travel or click here to watch the video.
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