Expect delays on board BC Ferries this weekend as they aim to move hundreds of thousands of people across the network on one of the busiest weekends of the year. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

expect delays

Busy long weekend expected on Nanaimo-area ferries & roads

Jun 28, 2024 | 5:32 AM

NANAIMO — Plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to get from A-to-B.

It’s tried and true advice for those venturing out for the Canada Day long weekend, with area ferries expected to be backs in and out of Vancouver Island, coinciding with a bump in traffic on local highways.

BC Ferries spokesperson Ceilidh Marlow said the July long weekend is typically the second busiest travel weekend of the year with hundreds of thousands of people and vehicles expected to be on board.

“Thursday and Friday are the most popular days to travel from Vancouver to Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, then Monday is the most popular day to travel back.”

As of Thursday, June 27, reservations from Nanaimo through either Departure Bay or Duke Point were beginning to fill up.

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Reservations were sold out for many of the midday sailings leaving Friday, June 28, while space remained for earlier morning or evening crossings.

Trips from the Lower Mainland into Nanaimo however have been booked out for weeks.

Those travelling without a reservation are advised to be prepared for sailing waits, especially through major terminals.

Marlow said travellers going to some of the smaller destinations this weekend can use newly installed webcams to check for vehicle volumes and potential waits.

“We find that having those webcams has been a huge help for passengers, especially on long weekends, looking to hear over to the smaller Islands such as the Discovery Islands, the Gulf Islands.”

Vessel breakdowns and delayed repairs made for a rough Canada Day stretch for the company in 2023, resulting in dozens of cancelled sailings.

Marlow added on the crewing side of things, an additional 600 staff have been added across the fleet for this summer, providing cover and additional help during peak times.

Heavy traffic volumes are expected in Nanaimo on Monday, July 1 as people vacationing from the Lower Mainland head back home. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Meanwhile, on area roadways, drivers can not only expect an increase in vehicle traffic overall but also a bigger police presence.

BC Highway Patrol Cpl. Melissa Jongema said they’ll be setting up roadblocks in key areas.

“BC Highway Patrol will be hanging out on the major highways over Vancouver Island, but we would be aware of people coming from boat ramps who may have been drinking on the boat all day, we will be aware that could be a problem and we’ll also be talking to the boat traffic at our roadblocks.”

Of particular interest to RCMP, according to Jongema, will be the Laketown Shakedown music festival in Lake Cowichan beginning Friday, June 28 and running through Sunday, June 30.

— with files from Jon de Roo, 97.3 The Eagle

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