A 1.5 km mobility path will replace the roadside shoulder on one side of North Rd. through Gabriola Island's village core. The project is slated to be complete by this fall. (Google Earth)

By Ian Holmes

New path

‘This is huge for us:’ new Gabriola Island roadside mobility path approved

Jul 2, 2020 | 5:47 AM

GABRIOLA ISLAND — A substantial investment in pedestrian infrastructure will see a 1.5 kilometre multi-use path through the heart of Gabriola Island’s village core.

The Regional District of Nanaimo board recently endorsed the $1.2 million Village Way Path project to build a two metre wide roadside trail along North Rd. between the South Rd. junction and Tin Can Alley.

Gabriola Island’s RDN director Vanessa Craig anticipates the path on the north side of North Rd. will make a dramatic difference in safely moving non-vehicular traffic in the area.

“Currently there is a lot of pedestrian traffic and they have to walk within the fog line at the side of the road and it’s not as safe,” Craig told NanaimoNewsNOW. “This is going to be a big asset to the island.”

The corridor will be paved in front of the several area businesses and packed with gravel for the remaining sections, according to an RDN staff report.

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The work is expected to begin after Labour Day and be complete later this fall.

Craig said it’s vital to create a more pedestrian-friendly village core to improve safety and convenience for everybody.

“People will drive between different areas for shopping and different tasks, but I think this will really open up the area to more people walking and using more non-motorized transport through the village core.”

Craig said the path will come in especially handy during farmer’s market season on Saturday’s in the summer, which she said draws large crowds.

Establishing the Village Way Path has been a long time coming.

Craig said the RDN formally began investigating plans in 2014, but noted the vision was initiated years prior as part of a local village core visioning process.

Craig said rural areas have limited control in improving road right-of-ways, making it difficult in many cases to create desired upgrades in a more timely fashion.

The Village Way Path project will be paid for by Gabriola Island’s share of federal gas tax revenue.

While the affected corridor is under Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure control, the RDN will be responsible for managing and maintaining the pathway.

There are no sidewalks on Gabriola Island and few roadside amenities for non-vehicular traffic on the island of 4,000 residents.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes