A substantial utility line/surface level work is underway on Hammond Bay Rd. between Turner and Rutherford roads. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

road rehabilitation

Scaled-down road construction season starts in Nanaimo

Jun 25, 2025 | 5:27 AM

NANAIMO — With typically several big-ticket projects on the go simultaneously, notably fewer road renewal projects are happening this summer in Nanaimo.

A key project features an upsized sewer line and watermain replacement, as well as surface level enhancements on Hammond Bay Rd. between Turner and Rutherford roads.

Crews arrived on scene this week for the project, which the City’s transportation manager Jamie Rose expects will primarily result in alternating traffic flow in the weeks and months ahead.

“Folks should definitely anticipate some delays along the corridor. We’re trying to minimize those as much as possible while getting the renewals done and being able to create a better corridor with capacity for future growth.”

Rose said the Hammond Bay Rd. project will extend slightly south toward Kenning Pl. off Turner Rd. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Enhancing sewer line capacity feeding to the Greater Pollution Control Centre further down Hammond Bay Rd. is required for future spikes in the north end’s population.

Budgeted by the City at a little over $9 million, the project is expected to be completed next spring with final paving touch-ups.

Notable surface-level work will include replacing sidewalks where digging work is required, including a grade-separated cycle lane on the north side of Hammond Bay Rd. between Brickyard and Turner roads.

Road-level cycle lane improvements are also included.

While minor hardware investments are being made to the traffic signal at Hammond Bay/Turner roads, Rose said significant work is pending at the Hammond Bay/Rutherford junction.

A “cleaner and tidier” intersection is coming, with less expansive areas of asphalt to accomplish safer movement for all road users approaching and at Rutherford/Hammond Bay, Rose said.

“We’re really trying to tighten things up and reduce the footprint as much as we can to create a more comfortable intersection and safer crossing points for pedestrians.”

The Rutherford/Hammond Bay rd intersection will be altered to improve safety. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The north Nanaimo project is a key pillar for the 2025 road construction season, as is establishing a Complete Street on Third St. between Howard Ave. and the Pine St./Bruce Ave. intersection.

Rose expects the utility/surface-level project west of downtown Nanaimo will commence in the late summer or early fall.

Forging ahead with a limited number of road construction projects compared to the past 18 to 24 months has some upsides, he said.

“There’s some benefits to giving the community and the industry a bit of a break and catch our breath,” Rose said. “As these larger projects like the midtown works and Commercial Street wind down, we’re going to have these two key ones: Hammond Bay and Third Street, those are the big chunks of work folks will see around the city this year.”

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