Vehicles are now rolling on Commercial St., between Bastion and Terminal Ave., after an extensive construction project. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

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Crews nearly done key initial phase of Nanaimo’s Commercial St. revitalization

Jul 21, 2025 | 2:13 PM

NANAIMO — A significant roadway overhaul through the epicentre of the city’s downtown core has surpassed some key milestones.

Commercial St. between Bastion and Wharf St. reopened to vehicular traffic on Friday, July 18, which followed the reopening of the key Bastion/Commercial St. intersection early in the month.

James Knight, City project manager for the Commercial St. Project, said the goal of establishing a more accessible area is coming to fruition.

“It feels like a plaza, but people are still able to drive on it,” Knight told NanaimoNewsNOW. “I think it’s very pedestrian-friendly and once the landscaping is in, it’s going to look absolutely fantastic. I’m quite excited to see us getting near the finish line now.”

Work continues atop Commercial St. with concrete and paving. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Paving continues on a short section of Commercial St. north of Bastion St. to the Great National Lands Building, Knight noted.

Irrigation systems need to be installed along the project area, then topsoil and planting will occur, Knight said, followed by street furniture, benches, bike racks and garbage/recycling bins being added.

The Bastion/Commercial St. intersection will shut down on Thursday, July 24 between 7 a.m. until the end of the weekly night market in the evening to allow pressure washing to be done to the intersection’s enlarged Pride mural feature, Knight said.

He believes a valuable template has been established as the City moves ahead with a multi-year project to overhaul Commercial St. between Albert and Front St.

“For sure there are some things that we can take from this first phase and apply them to future phases. I think also seeing how it looks will build excitement in the community and excitement seeing the rest of the road finished off.”

Stores along Commercial St. repeatedly expressed concerned over the extended project, which made it more difficult for people to stop and shop in the area. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Despite disruptions and construction delays caused by coal mine shafts unexpectedly closer to the road’s surface than anticipated, Knight believes the project remains on budget at a little over $4 million.

With work starting on the initial phase of Commercial St. in early September, the project between Wharf and Church St. was scheduled to be done by the end of May.

Knight doesn’t foresee coal mine shafts impacting future Commercial St. enhancement work.

“Outside of the Bastion and Commercial intersection, we don’t expect to encounter any coal mines that are going to be problematic for future phases, but of course it’s on our radar and we’ll continue to investigate that as needed.”

A one-year break is anticipated for Commercial St. enhancements, with Knight stating the four-way intersection where Albert and Wallace St. meet scheduled to be upgraded in 2027.

Next year, Knight told NanaimoNewsNOW the new BC Transit downtown exchange is expected to be built on Terminal Ave., just south of Commercial St.

Work continued on the top of Commercial St. for the next few weeks, while one final pressure wash of the Pride crosswalk will take place on Thursday, July 24. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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