Conceptual designs of the Commercial St. revamp includes wider, more accessible sidewalks in a space ready for events such as the downtown Night Market. (City of Nanaimo)

By Ian Holmes

Commercial Street

Detailed designs released for initial phases of Commercial St. overhaul

Oct 20, 2023 | 12:20 PM

NANAIMO — Construction is ready to go for the first two phases of a considerable multi-year face-lift of the heart of Nanaimo’s downtown.

While it’s unclear precisely how much work councillors will sign off on for the foreseeable future, costs are escalating.

James Knight, capital project management specialist of engineering design for the City, updated councillors during an Oct. 18 finance and audit committee meeting on plans to enhance Commercial St.

“If you take a walk down Commercial St. as it stands today you can see there’s quite a variety of surface finishes that have been used over the years and this mix of finishes creates sort of a disjointed and kind of a tired look to the area,” he said while referencing the project’s first two phases between Chapel and Skinner streets.

Detailed design plans for the section of road, excluding planned future work at Diana Krall Plaza, features a smooth, “event-ready” curb-less street.

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The work coincides with a required watermain replacement on Commercial St.

“What we heard was that the space needs to be connected, convenient, comfortable, engaging, accessible, legible, safe,” Knight said in reference to multiple meetings and public engagement sessions.

A narrowed roadway and shorter intersection crossing distances for pedestrians are planned.

Commercial St. would remain bi-directional for vehicle traffic, however put a greater emphasis on accessibility for non vehicular users. (City of Nanaimo)

Retractable bollards are proposed for Commercial St. to be used for temporary vehicular traffic closures during special events.

The City envisions “most” of the curbside area to remain available for on-street parking.

An enlarged progress pride flag landmark painted across an elevated Bastion and Commercial St. intersection is planned, along with new trees and improved lighting along the stretch.

City staff recommend the projects first two phases be combined and completed next year.

Coun. Paul Manly expressed “sticker shock” at the estimated cost of the project.

About $5.8 million dollars for the first two phases are projected, with $1.8 million already included in budget plans.

Council was able to close the funding gap through nearly $4 million from the Growing Communities Fund which was also supported Wednesday.

Knight said there are no plans to scale-down the project as a result of its elevated costs.

Viewed by the City as “a significant project within the downtown core”, councillors will need to approve additional required funds at a future council meeting.

The City envisions modernizing Commercial St. to take place in phases through 2030 between Wallace St. and Front St., with detailed designs to be created in the future.

First phase work will go out to procurement in November and December 2023, ahead of an early 2024 construction start.

Councillors committed to supporting the project this past June.

Overhauling Commercial St. was initiated in 2021 in response to significant area private sector investment and area City initiatives, including ongoing work on Terminal Ave.

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes