Travel advisory: Highway 17 Closures - Keating Cross Road Overpass Project - July 29 and August 7, 2024 View ×

Posted on: Friday, July 19, 2024

Highway 17 Closures
Keating Cross Road Overpass Project
Victoria to Swartz Bay
July 29 and August 7, 2024

Patricia Bay Highway (Hwy 17) between Victoria and Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island will be temporarily closed from Tanner Road to Island View Road due to the Keating Cross Road Overpass Project during the noted times on the following dates:

Scheduled Highway Closures

Monday,
July 29, 2024

Wednesday,
August 7, 2024

8:00 pm – 6:00 am

10:00 pm – 6:00 am


Customers looking to travel to or from Swartz Bay terminal during closure times will be impacted and should plan their travel accordingly. A detour will be in effect via Central Saanich Road. Customers should be prepared for a 15-20 minute delay as a result.

Those using transit to Swartz Bay are strongly advised to take earlier bus departures because of the detour. Additional information is available online at: https://alerts.bctransit.com/RouteAlertsDetail/45/70/724. 

For more information, please check the Keating Cross Overpass Project website here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation-projects/other-transportation-projects/highway-17-keating-cross-overpass.

For up-to-date sailing and departure information, check Current Conditions, follow @BCFerries on X, or phone 1-888-223-3779 for further assistance.

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Baggage services

 Baggage services are available on the following routes:

  • Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Vancouver Island (Swartz Bay)
  • Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Nanaimo (Duke Point)
  • Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Nanaimo (Departure Bay)
  • Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Sunshine Coast (Langdale)
  • North Coast routes
  • Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Southern Gulf Islands
BC Ferries is pleased to offer a complimentary checked baggage service. The maximum weight for each item is 23 kg (50 lb). 
To utilize our baggage service, items must be contained in a suitcase or other suitable container to ensure safe carriage. 

Please note the following items will not be accepted in our baggage service:
  • Unaccompanied or unmarked baggage and boxes. You must be traveling and able to personally collect your baggage at your destination
  • Fragile or perishable items
  • Money, jewellery, silverware, negotiable papers, securities or other valuables
  • Items that are leaking or could cause damage to other checked items
  • Sporting or band equipment not appropriately packed (i.e. hard case or travel bag)
  • Firearms or ammunition
  • Any items considered dangerous goods
  • Child car seats should be secured in a bag tied up for safety, with all straps and harnesses secured inside
  • Livestock

In order to assist our baggage handlers, we ask that you weigh and tag each piece of checked baggage at the baggage weigh-in station as follows:
 
Under 16 kg (35 lb) No tag required
Between 16 kg–23 kg (35–50 lb) Yellow tag required
Over 23 kg (50 lb) Bag must be carried on board


Please carry your bag on board if:
 
  • It exceeds the 23 kg (50 lb) limit;
  • It contains items that are fragile and may become damaged; or
  • It may cause damage to other baggage around it (contain items that are sharp or may leak) 
If your bags are damaged, delayed or missing, note that BC Ferries will not compensate for:
 
  • Any items that are fragile, and/or valuable, and/or perishable
  • Money, jewellery, silverware, negotiable papers, securities, business documents, prototypes, electronics and office equipment
  • Expenses incurred because baggage was delayed
  • Baggage scratches, zipper damage, manufacturing defects, dents, nicks, missing/torn straps handles, scuffs, soiling, wheels, locks, torn seams
  • Normal baggage wear and tear
  • Baggage damage as a result of adverse weather conditions

More information

Baggage claims
If your bags are damaged, delayed or missing, view baggage claims.
Bus travellers - tag your bags
  • If you are boarding a bus on a sailing between Vancouver (Tsawwassen) and Victoria (Swartz Bay) you must tag your bags
  • Bus tags are available at the check-in baggage areas in both of these terminals
  • If you are boarding a bus on any other sailing, please carry your bag with you
Checked baggage on North Coast routes
Ensure your baggage on North Coast routes weighs 30 kg / 66 lb. or less. If you're travelling with a large group, please let us know at the time of booking to arrange for a baggage cart.

Important:
  • Your first bag is free. Additional bags are subject to a stowage fee of $10 per bag.
Large group travel
Extra baggage carts are available on routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island for large groups of 30 or more passengers.

Required notification: To arrange for these carts to be made available to your group email us group.travel@bcferries.com or call 1-888-BC-FERRY (1-888-223-3779) 48 hours before your scheduled sailing.

Important:
  • All baggage is carried on the baggage cart at the owner’s risk and is not accessible during the sailing
Travelling with your pet on the ferry

Pets

Your small pets, including dogs, cats, birds and more, are welcome on our ferries and ride for free.

Find out more 
Travelling with Dangerous Goods on BC Ferries

Dangerous goods

See what goods are classified as dangerous, and learn how to declare them before you travel.

Find out more 
Driving your vehicle on board BC Ferries

Driving on board

What you need to know about travelling on our ferries with a vehicle.

Find out more 
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