An artist rendering of the final results expected for road and infrastructure upgrades to a section of Hammond Bay Rd. by the Pacific Biological Station. (City of Nanaimo)

By Alex Rawnsley

Road works

Stabilization, road widening the focus of Hammond Bay Rd. construction project

Jul 25, 2019 | 6:15 AM

NANAIMO — Commuters are being warned of pending significant delays along a portion of Hammond Bay Rd. in need of upgrades.

Beginning August 6 Hammond Bay Rd. between Prince John Way and Ricker’s Curve will be single lane alternating traffic with expected delays up to 15 minutes on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

When school resumes in September, construction will begin at 9 a.m.

Work is expected to conclude in mid-December 2019.

The City’s project manager Michael Elliott told NanaimoNewsNOW Hammond Bay Rd. will be stabilized and widened, while a sidewalk will be added on the northern side and a protected bike lane on the other.

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“We were out there constantly repairing, paving the road. It has been slowly sliding to the bank so the project is so we can take it off maintenance and get a 20-year life span out of it.”

While not a major traffic artery through Nanaimo, Elliott said the interruption will be substantial to daily commuters and area residents.

“There is up to 8,000 cars a day on that road, so if there was a problem that would force the closure of the road it would be a significant issue,” Elliott said.

Motorists are asked to avoid the area during the construction period and find an alternate route if possible.

“Particularly from Stephenson Point Rd. you can go up to Rutherford and Uplands. That adds about nine minutes to the trip, rather than waiting up to 15 minutes in traffic,” Elliott said.

Once complete, Elliott said crews will return briefly in March 2020 to complete road surfacing, sidewalks and line painting.

Utility upgrades in the same area of Hammond Bay Rd. earlier this year also caused significant delays for motorists.

The overhaul of Hammond Bay Rd. in the Stephenson Point area is the latest project in what’s been a busier than usual road construction season in Nanaimo.

A map of the impacted area beginning August 6, 2019. (City of Nanaimo/Google Maps)

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley