Following a closure in place since last April, a busy section of Albert. St has re-opened to single-lane alternating traffic. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

notable project

Partial re-opening signals home stretch of lengthy Albert St. project

Nov 27, 2023 | 5:10 PM

NANAIMO — A significant initiative to enhance non-vehicular movement between Harewood and Nanaimo’s downtown is substantially complete.

James Knight, capital project management specialist with the City of Nanaimo, said the ongoing Albert St. Complete Street project hit a significant milestone with alternating traffic opening on the street between Pine and Kennedy St. on Friday, Nov. 24.

Due to a narrowing construction window due to weather, Knight said final asphalt and pavement work will have to wait until next spring.

“The contractor’s been working really hard to get the retaining wall in and widen the road area so that we can install the bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides, we also have some street-lighting in,” Knight told NanaimoNewsNOW.

A view looking down the Albert St. hill from Kenney St. The other side of the road will have a painted bike lane. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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The latest portion of the multi-year project to establish what’s known as the VIU Bikeway, included a dedicated raised westbound bike lane.

Work started in April, leading to longstanding traffic disruptions, while access for non-vehicular users was unaffected, Knight noted.

Widening the road to accommodate the active transportation features saw a large retaining wall installed on the south side of the road, which Knight said will fill in with vegetative growth, Knight said.

He said a lack of room and the curving nature of the section of road required creative thinking to realize the soon-to-be obtained end product.

“I think this section of Albert St. was a little bit challenging with the S-curve and also have cyclists on the street on both sides, as well well there was no sidewalk on the north side.”

A watermain replacement was included in the project, as was the installation of a new fish-friendly culvert underneath Albert St. near Pine Street, which Knight said will enhance the Cat Stream.

The Cat Stream culvert under Albert St. is now larger due to increased storm activity due to climate change, while Fish baffles and fish gravels installed enhance fish habitat. The City states the culvert is now longer to accommodate the sidewalk and bike lanes. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Knight noted the project, at this point, is within the $4.4 million budget, which received a $500,000 provincial active transportation grant earlier this year.

He said the project area will see single-lane alternating traffic available from Monday to Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. until Dec. 7, at which point Knight

said traffic restrictions are scheduled to be lifted.

The project was the site of a recent close-call involving a steamroller going over the newly built Albert St. retaining wall, leaving the operator unhurt as he escaped the cab of his unit on his own power.

The final phase of extending a bikeway from VIU to downtown along the Albert St./Fourth St. corridor will extend east to Dunsmuir St, which is considered less labour-intensive by the City due to existing sidewalks and ample existing space for cycling infrastructure.

Additional information on the Albert St. Complete Street project can be found on the City of Nanaimo’s website.

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes