The Spencer Road Interchange (also known as the Bear Mountain Interchange) was scheduled for completion in May 2009. As of August 2009, it appears abandoned. All the heavy equipment, construction crews, and security personnel were withdrawn from the construction site in early July. Gravel roadbeds and a concrete overpass sit unfinished and empty.
Observers suggest that the city of Langford has already spent its $10 million line of credit from TD Bank, and that no money is forthcoming from the property developers the interchange would serve. Meanwhile, Langford's application for a Building Canada Fund grant for the interchange and the connecting road to Bear Mountain Resort appears to be in limbo. In the Goldstream Gazette, MP Keith Martin complains that he can't get a response from Ottawa about taxpayer funding for the project.
The city's application for federal and provincial grant money is controversial. Critics note that the project was billed as "100% funded by the developers" both in verbal promises to voters and in bylaws adopted by the city.
The most serious charge dogging the grant application is that the funding would amount to a cash gift to the developers, a practice forbidden by the Local Government Act. Any borrowing to cover the municipal portion of the grant would also be subject to a referendum by petition. Langford circumvented this step in 2008 by declaring the interchange a "Local Area Service" that would be paid for by the property owners who stand to benefit. However, the city can't have it both ways. Either the interchange is a Local Area Service and funded by the developers, or it is a public-funded project and the voters can approve or reject the spending in a referendum.
More infrastructure grant awards are expected to be announced in September, 2009. Original construction schedule here.
Work Grinds to a Halt, a Full Year Behind Schedule
Six months behind schedule, and more
August 14, 2008 - Construction of the Bear Mountain Interchange is now six months behind schedule, a situation that the consultation team warned could happen when we met with City of Langford staff in August 2007. The delay appears to be the result of problems securing funds for the project without driving the city in unmanageable debt. Mayor Stew Young repeatedly promised that "the developers would pay all of the cost," but the city is now reduced to issuing an unsecured letter of credit, scaling construction back dramatically and postponing portions of the interchange. Below is the original construction schedule, issued in October 2007. 
Interchange construction begins
On February 13, work crews began clearing most of the forest in the path of the interchange. Click on images for a closer view.
Many people feel strongly about this interchange project. We are still receiving public comments and opinions about the decision-making process, public consultation, democratic values, environmental issues, and heritage conservation. Please add your voice now. Click the comment link below, or email open.consultation@gmail.com. 
Langford Lake Cave as it appeared on Saturday, Feb 16 2008. The cave now has several tons of boulders piled on top of the rebar around the entrance. 
Aerial view of the proposed interchange route, with Langford Lake Cave and Spencer's Pond highlighted.
Design of the new highway interchange. Update: Digital images of the construction project are now available on the City of Langford's website. View the PDF document here.
Welcome to an independent consultation on the Bear Mountain Interchange
Please share your thoughts and opinions on wildlife, caves, rare species, hydrology, transportation, housing, First Nations culture, impacts on climate and quality of life.
Comment here, or email us at open.consultation@gmail.com.
Join us at an Open House on Wed, Sept 19 from 6:30 to 9:00 pm at the Juan de Fuca Library meeting room. (If the library union is picketing, the Open House will be rescheduled.)
Thank you!
