The Northfield Rd. intersection of the Nanaimo Parkway is a constant source of congestion, especially heading into summer weekends. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

road works

BC Conservatives promise ‘grade separation’ for ‘dangerous and congested’ Nanaimo Parkway

Oct 4, 2024 | 5:47 PM

NANAIMO — The B.C. Conservatives have included areas of the Nanaimo Parkway in their transportation plan, should the party be elected later this month.

Leader John Rustad announced on Thursday, Oct. 3 their “Get BC Moving” plan focused around transportation initiatives province wide.

While many are focused in and around the Lower Mainland, including an expansion of Hwy. 1 in Chilliwack, a widening of the new Patullo Bridge and a new Ironworkers Memorial Bridge, the Nanaimo Parkway was also identified as a priority.

“Upgrade Highway 19 in Nanaimo with grade separation at the most dangerous and congested intersections,” the plan reads with no further detail.

A concept identified by a 2021 report, recommending an overpass and associated on/off ramps at the Jingle Pot Rd./Third St. intersection of the Nanaimo Parkway, replacing traffic lights. (ISL Engineering/MOTI)

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Grade separation is a road safety method where various junctions or intersections are placed at different heights, so the flow of traffic is not affected by vehicles crossing.

Examples include overpasses, bridges and tunnels.

NanaimoNewsNOW reached out multiple times to the BC Conservative Party for specific information on their plan, but no response was received by publication.

The often-maligned traffic lights on the Nanaimo Parkway have been subject to several studies over the years.

A 2021 engineering report done by ISL Engineering for the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure recommended replacement of the traffic lights at the Mostar/Jingle Pot Rd., Northfield Rd. and Third St./Jingle Pot Rd. intersections.

However MOTI said at the time none of the improvements were budgeted.

“The Ministry is considering the recommendations of the 2021 Nanaimo Parkway and Nanoose Bay Corridor Study that identified short, medium, and long-term strategies; including capacity and safety improvements. These recommendations will help inform future investment possibilities in this area,” said a MOTI statement to NanaimoNewsNOW in February 2023.

One of three options proposed in a 2021 report for the government on the Northfield Rd. intersection. All three involve either an over or underpass of Hwy. 19. (ISL Engineering/MOTI)

The report identified around 26,000 vehicles travel the Nanaimo Parkway daily, and while the number of accidents are significantly higher than provincial averages, the severity is slightly lower.

Most of the crashes were rear-end collisions, which ISL Engineering stated could be largely reduced by removing traffic signals in favour of interchanges.

The complete report, which looks at Hwy. 19 from Nanoose Bay to its joining with Hwy. 1 is available here.

— with files from Ian Holmes

Expansion of the Mostar Rd./Jingle Pot Rd. intersection of the Nanaimo Parkway would involve an overpass with on and off-ramps to replace traffic lights at a high congestion area. (ISL Engineering/MOTI)

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