OYSTER RIVER — A new transportation study is pointing to a number of potential improvements along Highway 19A, with a focus on making the corridor safer and more accessible for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and transit users.
The study, completed by Urban Systems Ltd. for the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit with support from the Strathcona Regional District, examined portions of Highway 19A between Oyster River and Jubilee Parkway in Campbell River.
The corridor is an important connection for residents travelling between rural communities, neighbourhoods, schools, businesses, parks, beaches and other destinations. For people in the Sayward area, Highway 19A is also part of the route used to reach services and communities farther south.
According to the Strathcona Regional District, the study identified opportunities involving road safety, access management, active transportation and signage. It also identified locations where additional technical work could help determine which improvements should move forward.
A focus on safer connections
The study looked beyond vehicle traffic alone. Recommendations and opportunities identified through the work include improving connections for people walking and cycling, addressing access along the highway and making travel safer for transit users.
The Ministry and regional district developed the study with input from local First Nations, School District 72, BC Transit and other community and government partners.
That broader consultation is important because Highway 19A serves a wide range of users—from commuters and commercial traffic to people walking, cycling or taking public transit.
Strathcona Regional District Area D Director John Rice said improving safety along Highway 19A has been a longstanding concern for residents.
The completed study now provides a clearer picture of the corridor’s transportation challenges and potential solutions, while creating a foundation for future investment.
Study does not mean construction is imminent
While the findings identify possible improvements, residents should not interpret the study as a commitment that all of the proposed changes will immediately be built.
The regional district says some opportunities will require additional technical analysis, design work, consultation and funding before implementation can be considered. The study itself is not currently available online.
The announcement comes as transportation improvements continue elsewhere along the Highway 19A corridor.
In Campbell River, the city’s 2026 Master Transportation Plan includes transportation safety and connectivity projects, including planned safety improvements at the Highway 19A and Shoppers Row intersection, as well as additional pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
The province has also scheduled resurfacing work on Highway 19A in the Royston Road and Campbell River area as part of a $102.5-million 2026 investment in road improvements across B.C.’s South Coast.
What it could mean for the North Island
For communities farther north, the study is significant because Highway 19A is more than a Campbell River commuter route. It is part of the transportation network connecting rural communities with the services, employment, schools, health care and businesses concentrated farther south.
Any future improvements that make the corridor safer or easier to navigate could therefore have benefits well beyond the immediate study area.
For now, however, the study represents a planning step rather than a construction announcement.
The Ministry of Transportation and Transit and its regional partners will need to determine which recommendations should be advanced, how they should be designed and how future projects will be funded.
For residents who regularly travel Highway 19A, the completion of the study is nevertheless an important development: after years of concerns about safety and connectivity, government planners now have a more detailed assessment of where improvements could make the biggest difference.
