Final prep work ahead of the Departure Bay Forcemain Twinning Project started on Tuesday, Oct. 13, with RDN crews taking samples of the ground under the roadway, with main construction on the project scheduled for early next year. (Image Credit: Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

forcemain twinning

Preliminary survey work underway ahead of massive Hammond Bay Rd. project

Oct 13, 2026 | 4:11 PM

NANAIMO — Ahead of a major planned infrastructure project getting underway next year, crews are taking some final samples.

Over the next few weeks, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 13, crews from the Regional District of Nanaimo will be along Hammond Bay Rd., between Prince John Way and Tiki Way, digging or drilling small holes to take samples of the ground underneath the roadway.

James Haddou, RDN manager of capital project delivery, told NanaimoNewsNOW the subsurface investigations are a critical final step before the Departure Bay Forcemain Twinning Project begins early in 2027.

“Those are to understand what kind of soils are actually under the road and how deep is the rock under the road where we plan to do our construction. This is to inform the detailed design of our work and the extent of the work.”

The project involves the installation of around four kilometres of new sewer forcemain, from the pump station at Departure Bay beach to a treatment plant on McGuffie Rd.

forcemain twinning

Preliminary survey work underway ahead of massive Hammond Bay Rd. project

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It will be replacing infrastructure over 50 years old and accounts for around 75 per cent of the City of Nanaimo’s wastewater.

Holes will be dug to a depth of around three metres, which will be where the new forcemain will be situated.

Haddou said up to two crews will be on the corridor most days, digging or drilling holes before covering them back up with a temporary patch.

While there is a lot of information about the ground composition in the area from past projects, the depth of this project is presenting a challenge.

“There hasn’t necessarily been done and information collected exactly where we’re going to be doing our work, and the force main that we’re installing is parallel to our existing [infrastructure] and is deeper than most of the utilities. This is really making sure that we do our due diligence to prevent surprises.”

Once the investigation work wraps, barring any surprising findings, the project in earnest will begin early next year.

Extensive traffic disruptions are expected, with vehicles detoured away from the work zone to either the north of south.

Specific disruptions will be communicated ahead of time by the City and Regional District.

More information on the project, including the latest updates on work, is available through the RDN’s Get Involved page.

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by Alex Rawnsley

Preliminary survey work underway ahead of massive Hammond Bay Rd. project

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