By Dominic Abassi

Quaint downtown Nanaimo lane gets new look, troublesome cobblestones removed

Dec 4, 2017 | 12:32 PM

NANAIMO — One of downtown Nanaimo’s more unique street surfaces is getting a makeover.

The cobblestones on Museum Way, adjacent to the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, were removed in mid-November and will soon be replaced by stamped concrete.

Jamie Rose, the City’s acting manager of transportation, said the cobblestones were unstable and City staff were repairing and resetting them several times a year.

“We got some feedback that it was a bit bumpy. Some people didn’t like the clickity-clack noise it made, others had concerns about walking on it. The stamped concrete will address all of those concerns,” Rose said.

The budget for the removal of the cobblestones and replacing them with stamped concrete is $70,000. Rose said the cobblestones were put in when the conference centre opened in 2008 and the cost of their installation is unknown because it was part of the overall construction for the building.

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Stamped concrete was chosen as the new surface after a review of options and some public engagement, Rose said.

“We wanted to maintain the character, feel and look of the area but wanted to address some of the concerns and our maintenance efforts on it,” he said, adding the City will consider using cobblestones in other areas in the future because concrete will still require maintenance, just a different kind.

The new surface is expected to be installed once weather permits. “I think everybody is going to be happy when they see the end product.”

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi