A multi-year capital construction program is underway at Horseshoe Bay terminal. To ensure we keep residents and community members informed, details regarding construction will be updated regularly.

Geotechnical work - on land and water

Dates: September - October 2025

Construction times: Day and night work

Construction activity Geotechnical site investigations will be undertaken in the marine environment and upland throughout the lower terminal. This work will involve drilling to collect samples which will be used to perform specialized testing to better understand the geotechnical properties of the soil and rock underneath the terminal. Berth 1 will need to be closed during the marine investigations and work will be undertaken day and night to shorten the closure of the berth. Please note, no sailings will be impacted by the berth closure. The upland drilling will take place when operationally safe to do so, due to the drill sites close proximity of customers. As a result, the drilling may take place during the day or night.

Mitigations While some moderate noise may be heard in the immediate area during drilling, every effort will be made to minimize disruption for nearby residents. Examples of drill rigs are shown below.

Control tower and pedestrian footbridge

Dates:  September - November 2025

Construction times: Day and night work

Construction activity There are three elements to this work: the installation of a new modular control tower, the demolition of the old control tower and the removal of a pedestrian footbridge. The new tower will be installed as a modular building just south of its current location. Construction associated with the control tower includes excavation and concrete works, delivery of the prefabricated building, set up and testing, and decommissioning and removal of the old tower. Once these works have been completed, the demolition of the elevated structure can begin.

Mitigations To ensure this work can be undertaken while passengers and essential goods and services can continue to travel, work is being carried out during the day and at night. Impacts to the surrounding community are expected to be minimal. Fencing and hoarding will be installed to separate the construction site from terminal operations. Traffic diversions will ensure boarding and disembarking vehicles can maneuver safely around any active construction areas. Please pay attention to terminal personnel and traffic flaggers and follow their directions. The construction time has been reduced significantly by utilizing prefabricated buildings for the control tower. The removal of the footbridge has been timed to happen in the evening, reducing disruptions to the traveling public. Neither activity is expected to generate significant nighttime noise for those who live in the immediate community. Computer generated image of the control tower and bridge removal

Transfer deck life extension phase II

Dates: June - November 2025

Construction times: Day and night work

Construction activity The transfer deck at Horseshoe Bay terminal is undergoing maintenance work. This is the second of three phases of work on this structure to be undertaken in the coming months.

Mitigations To ensure that this work can be undertaken while passengers and essential goods and services can continue to travel, work is being carried out at night. Impacts to the surrounding community are expected to be minimal. We've set up sound dampening enclosures to help reduce construction noise.

Rock face remediation phase II - Complete

Dates: June - August 2025

Construction times: Day and night

Construction activity Crews worked on the sheer rock wall above the staging area where vehicles wait to load onto vessels. Over three months, the rock face was cleared of vegetation, rock bolts were installed to secure large rock masses, and protective mesh was installed along sections. The mesh acts as a safety device to help control rockfalls, should they happen. You can see similar mesh along the Sea-to-Sky Highway and other areas across the Lower Mainland. To complete the work, protective barriers have been installed along the base of the rock face in several areas to create rock catchment zones.

Section of Horseshoe Bay parking lot used for construction laydown

Starting in early September 2025, 18 parking spaces in the parking lot adjacent to the Horseshoe Bay terminal building, will be used as a site compound and office facility for construction crews. A modular building has been installed, and the remaining area will be used for construction laydown and storage. Additional parking is available near the terminal in the BC Ferries parkade located to the south of the terminal. The parkade is the same price as the short-term lot and is just a three-minute walk away! The entrance to the parkade is on the left after making the turn to enter the terminal and the Village. If you miss the turning, don’t worry, you can exit the parking lot as if exiting the terminal and circle back around easily by turning RIGHT at the traffic light. If you are picking up passengers from the terminal, please be aware that the Drop off Area has a 3-minute maximum wait time. To assist others, please ensure you park as close to the car in front, to allow space behind you, and be mindful of the wait time.  Coming by bus? Find out more about transit options here.

About the Infrastructure Improvements 

  For more information, please visit: https://www.bcferries.com/news-releases/essential-infrastructure-renewal-program-at-horseshoe-bay-terminal-gets-underway

Horseshoe Bay booking changes to include customer improvements

07 Aug 2025

Starting October 15, all customers travelling by vehicle, including motorcycles, from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay (Nanaimo) will be required to book and pay in advance, before arriving at the terminal. This is only required for travel in this direction. This change will help keep customers moving and maintain safety through the multi-year construction program at the terminal, where vehicle staging space will be reduced by 25%.

Once these changes take effect, Drive-up (at-terminal) and Reservation-only fares will no longer be available in this direction. Customers will be able to choose between Prepaid and Saver fares for their travel. Commercial vehicles will also need to reserve in advance, but their fare structure and payment process will remain unchanged.

For more information, please visit: www.bcferries.com/news-releases/horseshoe-bay-booking-changes-to-include-customer-improvements

For travel tips, please visit: www.bcferries.com/hsb-travel

Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo (Departure Bay) advance booking model survey

Beginning in fall 2025, an advance booking model will be introduced for all vehicles travelling from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo (Departure Bay). The option to purchase ‘At Terminal’ fare will no longer be available (except to foot passengers). This change is required in order to better manage traffic and the flow of vehicles, and to accommodate a 25% reduction in space at the terminal during the critical infrastructure renewal project at Horseshoe Bay.

To better understand customer choices and preferences for booking travel, we surveyed customers who use this route in spring and summer 2025 and engaged with customers onboard. This survey is now closed.

Thanks for participating. Your insights will help us better understand how this model will impact travellers and identify opportunities for improvement. Decisions about this project will also be informed by regulatory obligations, budgetary constraints, safety standards, environmental standards, technical and operational feasibility, and other considerations.

May Update: Construction advances, customer-focused improvements coming for Horseshoe Bay

In May 2025 we announced we're advancing critical infrastructure renewal at the Horseshoe Bay terminal, with planning and procurement underway and the first major phase of construction set to begin this fall.

About the essential infrastructure improvements and customer-focused changes

BC Ferries is introducing several customer-focused changes, including moving to an advance booking model one-way only from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay. For more information, please visit: www.bcferries.com/news-releases/bc-ferries-advances-construction-introduces-customer-focused-improvements-Horseshoe-Bay

Committed to regular updates

As this work progresses, we are committed to keeping the community and interest holders informed about the work being undertaken and will provide as much notice as possible in advance of any anticipated changes or disruptions.

February update: essential infrastructure improvements announced

19 Feb 2025

In February 2025 we announced we’re planning a series of essential infrastructure improvements at Horseshoe Bay terminal over the next several years.

About the Essential Infrastructure Improvements

Over the next several years, the terminal will undergo a series of essential improvements to address aging infrastructure and improve operations, as well as address current and future demand for ferry service, driven by significant population growth along the BC coast.

For more information, please visit: https://www.bcferries.com/news-releases/essential-infrastructure-renewal-program-at-horseshoe-bay-terminal-gets-underway

Committed to Regular Updates

As this work progresses, we are committed to keeping the community and interest holders informed about the work being undertaken and will provide as much notice as possible in advance of any anticipated changes or disruptions.