The Bastion/Commercial St. intersection will be closed between Jan. 2 and late February. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

lump of coal

Nanaimo’s Bastion/Commercial Street intersection to close while mine void issue addressed

Dec 30, 2024 | 11:15 AM

Editor’s note: This article was updated at 1:50 p.m. with further context from the City of Nanaimo’s manager of engineering projects.

NANAIMO — A key intersection in Nanaimo’s downtown core will soon be a no-go for vehicular traffic for several weeks.

The City of Nanaimo is moving ahead with closing the Bastion/Commercial St. intersection to vehicular usage between Thursday, Jan. 2 and late February.

At issue are mine voids beneath the intersection and nearby on Commercial St. requiring infill with grout and concrete.

Phil Stewart, the City of Nanaimo’s manager of engineering projects, told NanaimoNewsNOW test drilling in September, followed by another round of investigative work to discover the breadth of mine voids in the Design Commercial project area spans the entire construction zone.

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“We’re confirming that we’ve found everything that we thought was going to be there. We’re not expecting any more surprises, but surprises happen, and we’re kind of planning for the worst with the timelines,” he said.

In late September, investigative camera-equipped drilling by Windley Contracting on Commercial St. uncovered mine shafts located closer to the surface than expected, disrupting the planned work schedule.

The drilling was done in advance of underground utility line replacement.

Stewart still believes the goal of completing the first phase of enhancing Commercial St. between Wharf and Church streets will be done by the end of May, minus perhaps any last-minute landscaping and street furniture installations.

He said it was determined shutting down Bastion at Commercial St. made the most sense.

“We could do it without closing the road, but it would take longer and we want to really respect that schedule and looking at what the businesses told us about their busy times and their not busy times — January and February is quieter for them.”

To date, Bastion St., which dissects the Commercial St. project, has remained unobstructed.

Stewart said the mine shaft areas involve a relatively small zone beneath Bastion and Commercial streets, as well as slightly south of the intersection encompassing both sides of Commercial St.

He said in the weeks ahead people in the area will notice numerous surface-level holes being drilled through the roadway.

“You’re going to see a drill rig and some workers putting concrete and grout down those holes. You won’t see a big excavation or that type or anything, but it will be drilling down to find them and plugging them from the surface.”

With the first phase of the Commercial St. overhaul budgeted by the City at a little over $4 million, Stewart said costs will escalate, but he didn’t have immediate specifics.

Stewart is hopeful the project’s contingency fund will absorb the extra costs.

Free two-hour parking in the Commercial St. area as well as the second and third levels of the Bastion Street Parkade are in effect throughout the first phase of the Commercial St. project.

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