Traffic flow patterns have changed onto Hwy. 19A from Aulds Rd., wich a new yield sign replacing a former merge lane. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

highway upgrades

Re-paving & safety changes to Hwy. 19A substantially complete

Oct 7, 2022 | 5:32 AM

NANAIMO — Crews on site of paving and other upgrades along Hwy. 19A in the city’s north end are almost done.

The Ministry of Transportation told NanaimoNewsNOW work is “approximately 95 per cent complete” on the project, which saw a new road surface laid down, replacement of the vegetated median with a concrete barrier and other safety improvements.

Work extended along Hwy. 19A from Mary Ellen Dr., south to Turner Rd. where it met with a stretch of the highway which was re-done in 2020.

“Most of the work occurred at night so daytime traffic was not impacted,” a spokesperson for the ministry said. “There were minor detours in place some nights to accommodate work crews.”

Line painting is the only remaining work on site, which the ministry expects complete in the fall.

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Road surfacing and concrete medians were a bulk of the work during recent upgrades along Hwy. 19A in north Nanaimo. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The project brought about one significant change to traffic patterns in the area. A merge lane from Aulds Rd. onto the southbound lanes of Hwy 19A was replaced with a yield.

A spokesperson from the ministry said the change was made because all other turns onto the highway are yield’s, and motorists were confused at the lone merge into an acceleration lane.

The move was made “for consistency’s sake”, according to the spokesperson.

Work is also wrapping up on culvert and road surfacing upgrades in Lantzville along Hwy. 19, the site of a sinkhole which temporarily closed the highway in November 2021.

Crews have been on site since early July with clean-up and lane marking the substantial tasks still remaining.

A 60 kilometre per hour construction speed zone remains in effect for the area near Superior Rd.

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