Five new roundabouts are set to be installed starting this week on the Nanaimo Parkway, between Fifth St. and Aulds Rd. Most will feature landscaped features and will see the removal of existing traffic light infrastructure. (Image Credit: Round and Round and Round Architecture)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

in a spin

Roundabouts to address long-standing traffic flow issues along Nanaimo Parkway

Apr 1, 2026 | 5:51 AM

NANAIMO — A long-rumoured unconventional approach is on its way to deal with growing local highway traffic congestion.

The provincial ministries of Transportation, Transit, and Infrastructure announced the imminent construction of five roundabouts along Hwy. 19, at the Aulds Rd., Mostar Rd., Northfield Rd., Jingle Pot Rd. (south), and Fifth St. intersections, replacing existing traffic lights.

A statement from the provincial government budgets the project at $25 million, with the roundabouts expected to be installed and operational by the fall.

“Our government is committed to safe, efficient travel across this amazing province, and the installation of these roundabouts will ensure residents of the Island, as well as visitors, to ensure they can get to where they need to be.”

Construction will occur simultaneously at all five locations, beginning mid-April.

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Traffic lights will be turned off beginning Wednesday, April 1, allowing drivers a few weeks of stop-free commuting before the roundabouts are built.

Once work on site begins, the Nanaimo Parkway will close entirely to vehicle traffic, with detours in place to the Old Island Hwy. between Aulds Rd. and the Cedar/Chase River interchange.

All five roundabouts will be two-laned and feature LED signage in advance of the intersection to help instruct drivers on how to approach.

A rendering of the new-look Aulds Rd. intersection with the Nanaimo Parkway, set to feature a helicopter landing pad. (Image Credit: Province of B.C.)

Designs call for some unique additions for each of the traffic calming devices.

A helicopter landing pad will be included at the centre of both the Aulds Rd. and Fifth St. intersections, allowing easier patient transfer from the Nanaimo Parkway to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

The City of Nanaimo is contributing $1.5 million toward the project in the form of light-displayed artwork at the centre of the Third St./Jingle Pot Rd. and Mostar Rd. intersections, similar to installations at Maffeo Sutton Park and on Commercial St.

Each roundabout will show different local artists’ projections during the overnight hours, highlighting the evolution of transit in the region.

Northfield Rd.’s new roundabout will have a major added feature in the form of a pedestrian, cyclist, and animal overpass connecting treed areas on either side of the highway.

A sketch of the planned overpass at Northfield Rd. (Image Credit: Round and Round and Round Architecture)

It’s projected to cost $77 million, but will be funded by the federal government, with officials saying removing users such as cyclists, e-bikers, joggers, and marmots from highway roundabouts keeps traffic flowing and improves overall safety.

To address concerns around safety, a new technology-based pilot project will be added to both the Mostar Rd. and south Jingle Pot Rd. intersections.

LaneLogic Signal Automation System uses AI and laser data transfer to automatically connect with a vehicle’s turning signal and deploy the correct one based on their speed and lane positioning on approach.

Vehicles with a model year of 2014 or newer are automatically subscribed to the service.

Boris Doerksen is frustrated with the changes and its impact to his Cedar-area business. (Image Credit: NanaimoNewsNOW Staff)

Boris Doerksen of Cedar is a regular Nanaimo Parkway user and semi-truck driver who regularly delivers throughout central and north Vancouver Island.

He’s livid roundabouts are coming to the Nanaimo Parkway.

“My rig obviously can’t accelerate quickly. How am I going to join traffic?! This is going to slow traffic down even more. The only good thing this does is discourage street racing. This is a complete joke!”

Doerksen is one of over 100 Island-based truckers who’ve committed to launching an extended and disruptive convoy-type demonstration outside the Legislature in Victoria for the duration of construction.

Others in the community agree with Doerksen and don’t want the project to proceed.

Angela Spinner represents the newly formed Nanaimo Circle Resistance (Nanaimo Circle Oversight Committee).

A petition circulated in recent days has already garnered over 35,000 signatures, Spinner said.

“The government keeps saying Nanaimo Parkway roundabouts will make things better, but five in a row is just spinning the problem in circles in a government-mandated carousel.”

In response, new transportation minister and Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MLA Randy Abot said large, overhead instructional LED video boards will be installed in advance of each intersection, explaining proper procedures.

“Given the added complexity and danger of highway roundabouts, all drivers in the province must also successfully complete 25 sessions in our newly launched virtual reality roundabout portal.”

Abot admitted construction will be difficult for Nanaimo drivers.

A full closure of the highway for months is a challenge, however it also presents an opportunity to explore different parts of B.C.

“We’ve arranged for a detour route for those looking to avoid the Nanaimo congestion, which on a map looks very appealing to me. All travellers have to do is go to Comox, over to Powell River, down to Gibsons, over to Tsawwassen, and connect back up to the Island highway network at Duke Point. Easy.”

The so-called ’round-a-detour’ for a normally 20-minute drive on the Parkway is expected to take 14 hours and involve four BC Ferries trips.

No discounts are being made available for the “minor” inconvenience, Abot said.

The available “Round-a-Detour” available for Nanaimo drivers looking to avoid Parkway-closure-related congestion this summer. (Image Credit: Google Maps)

Editor’s note: April Fools!!! Please adhere to all traffic lights and other signage, as frustrating as it may be. We hope you enjoyed our annual spin into non-fiction ridiculousness.

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