Construction along Bowen Rd. will see the middle lanes closed between Dufferin Cres. and Pryde Ave starting Aug. 6 until Aug 19, to allow for water main work to be completed. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

ROAD WORK

Final phase of Midtown Water Supply project affects Bowen Rd. traffic

Aug 6, 2024 | 4:30 PM

NANAIMO — Lane closures and construction crews are expected along a main artery in the city for the next couple of weeks.

The middle lanes along Bowen Rd. between Dufferin Cres. and Pryde Ave. will be closed off, limiting traffic to just a single lane in each direction, between Tuesday, Aug. 6 and Aug. 19 for water main work under the road surface.

Bill Sims, City general manager of engineering and public works, told NanaimoNewsNOW the last phase of the new Midtown Water Supply project sees a repurpose of the phased-out pipe running under Bowen Rd.

“We’ve got this great, big concrete pipe that’s going to be emptied and drained, and now that provides an opportunity as a vessel to slide future water mains through.”

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The 750-millimetre diameter pipe, which was put out of commission last month when the new service took over, will now serve as a casing for a smaller, 300-millimetre diameter pipe to provide redundancy to the surrounding area.

Sims said it’s important work.

“It is disruptive when we undertake infrastructure work within a road right of way, but the work that’s going on…is providing a secondary or backup. This one is focused on the immediate area around Bowen Rd. and specifically the hospital.”

Work crews are expected on site between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays, with traffic control in place around the clock.

Commuters are advised to select a different route if possible and avoid the area.

All businesses along the path remain accessible, however vehicles will be unable to make left-hand turns on or off Bowen Rd. from businesses or side streets.

The expansive $55 million project officially came online in late July and delivers water to roughly two-thirds of Nanaimo residents.

Under construction since the spring of 2022, the project saw new water mains buried between a pump station near Vancouver Island University and the Labieux Water Station near Beban Park.

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