The intersection of Bastion St. and Commercial St. becomes a four-way stop starting Sept. 1. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

intersection upgrades

Bastion St. and Commercial Rd. becoming four-way stop to slow drivers

Sep 1, 2020 | 5:38 AM

NANAIMO — A “unique” downtown Nanaimo intersection is changing to hopefully protect pedestrians and increase walkability in the area.

The Bastion and Commercial St. intersection has become a four-way stop for a two month pilot project in September and October.

Jamie Rose, manager of transportation with the City of Nanaimo, told NanaimoNewsNOW a four-way stop makes sense at the intersection in a quieter stretch of downtown.

“This location is in the dead centre bullseye of downtown, it’s a destination. We’re not in a situation where we’re dealing with a thoroughfare where people are trying to get through the intersection (to arrive somewhere),” he said.

Rose said turning the intersection into a four-way stop was identified in the Downtown Mobility Hub project.

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When the option was discussed with City Council June, Rose actually spoke against turning the area into a four-way.

At the time, Rose cautioned pedestrians “become background and there tends to be a jockeying of cars and an oversight of pedestrians.”

Now, he said motorists don’t travel at high speeds through the area and it’s beneficial to have them stop at the intersection.

“There is a need for everyone to be aware of everybody else, but when they’re coming from a stopped situation, the speeds are going to be low.”

Rose said the project will also increasing the ability to easily walk throughout the downtown core.

“We’re focused on making downtown a pedestrian friendly area. We want people walking, biking and strolling around. We don’t really want our roads in these retail and business areas to be car-centric.”

During the pilot project, the existing traffic lights will flash red to reinforce the change.

Should the pilot be successful, the city plans to compliment the four-way stop with a raised intersection for speed control and remove the existing traffic light infrastructure.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt