The Boxwood Rd. barriers have been adjusted a few times since being installed over the summer, but problems still remain. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

boxed in on boxwood

Boxwood Rd. bike lane barriers still a concern for local businesses

Sep 28, 2022 | 6:17 AM

NANAIMO — Concrete barriers along Boxwood Rd. between Dufferin Cres. and Tulsa Rd. have been giving some local businesses headaches.

The new barriers, installed early in July, provided a new designated bike lane which is large enough to fit a car, and is making it difficult for bigger vehicles to navigate turning into businesses on the street.

The City of Nanaimo has worked with affected businesses since the installation to try and alleviate some of those concerns.

“This is not uncommon with construction projects,” said Jamie Rose, City transportation manager. “Sometimes we have to do some revisions and revisit the design of things. So as quickly as we could, we got out and had discussions with them, and reviewed what the impacts were and how we could modify the plan to accommodate it.”

Rose said over the next few weeks they were able to make changes to accommodate those businesses, including re-adjusting and even removing some of the barriers completely.

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One affected business is Atlas Building Systems, located at 2005 Boxwood Rd, with barricades located to the left and right of their main entrances.

Operations Manager Amy Grewal said the barriers forced some of their larger vehicles, like the ones towing a 53-foot trailer, to turn directly into oncoming traffic in order to make it out of their yard undamaged.

She said when the barriers were first installed, they had mainland drivers refusing to make deliveries to their shop because of access issues.

“We have B trains of lumber coming in…people were coming from the mainland with product and refusing to deliver and leaving because they were unable to get into our yard… they just couldn’t turn in, and we’re not going to jeopardize damaging their truck.”

Barriers were installed over the summer in a bid to provide protected areas for cyclists and pedestrians in the primarily industrial area of Boxwood Rd. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Grewal said some of her neighbouring businesses have gotten into “heated” discussions with representatives from the City about the barriers and said it seems the ones who were the loudest got their barriers removed.

“Anyone up the street who has yelled repeatedly have gotten their barricades removed…because I’ve done little to no yelling I’ve got selected barricades removed, but there’s still an issue.”

She said she reached out to the City again about a week and a half ago to discuss this further but hasn’t heard back from them since.

Grewal also has safety concerns for pedestrians and those who use the bike lane, especially during the rainy winter season.

“There’s a lot of high traffic. Yes it’s light out right now, but come the winter months when the cyclists and pedestrians think it’s ok to walk where trucks are pulling in and out all day, they’re not going to see them.”

While there are no immediate plans to make any further adjustments, Rose said these are not uncommon issues in the construction world, and sometimes adjustments have to be made.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow