Crews have been noticeably absent lately from Commercial St. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

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Old Nanaimo mine voids disrupt Commercial Street overhaul

Oct 8, 2024 | 5:51 AM

NANAIMO — Relics of the Harbour City’s past are putting a wrench in modernizing a section of downtown Nanaimo’s Commercial St.

City of Nanaimo capital project management specialist James Knight said their contractor’s investigative drilling for a Commercial St. trench line unearthed mine shafts which appeared to be closer to the surface than anticipated.

The shafts were discovered during test drilling on Sept. 20 and 21 leading to the City to inform Windley Contracting to stop working in the area for safety precautions.

“They’re generally not a concern because they’re normally quite deep,” Knight said. “What it looks like we have in this situation is that the roofs of these old mines have sort of collapsed so the void moves towards the surface,” Knight told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Knight said geotechnical engineers are currently formulating a mitigation plan.

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“Normally in a situation like this the void would be filled-in with a grout mixture.”

He suspects there will be impacts on the project timeline and budget, but said details won’t materialize until a firm mitigation plan is in place.

Fortunately, the discoveries were made relatively early into the project timeline.

“If this was happening in April for example, then obviously, we’d be very comfortable saying the project would be delayed,” Knight added.

The first phase of upgrading Commercial St. is budgeted at a little over $4 million.

While Knight said mine shafts rising upward in various Nanaimo neighbourhoods happens occasionally, the good news is the problem in this case is localized.

“This is an area that’s sort of confined to around the Bastion St. intersection and the rest of the project area we don’t have a concern with at this time.”

Known as Douglas Seam, Commercial St. served as a portion of the No. 1 Mine, which closed in 1938 and was the oldest operating mine in the province, according to the City.

Knight said it’s unclear when the void will be filled, stating a separate contractor and supplies are required for the job.

In the meantime, Knight noted work is happening behind the scenes on Commercial St., such as establishing temporary watermain tie-ins.

The City hopes to modernize Commercial St. between Church and Wharf St. by next May, featuring a street-level, event ready sidewalk and other enhancements to spruce up the heart of downtown.

The construction area, with the exception of Bastion St. is closed to vehicular traffic during the duration of the project.

Business remain open on Commercial St. in the impacted work zone. (ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Knight noted the project timeline includes contingences for inclement weather, but stated dry stretches will be required for asphalt and concrete work.

While area merchants NanaimoNewsNOW recently spoke to are optimistic about transforming Commercial St. into a more accessible, pedestrian friendly area, Knight conceded the lack of visible construction work lately hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“I’m sure once works starts up again shortly here people will see the progress and feel a little bit more comfortable with what’s happening.”

Free on-street parking in the downtown area was implemented on Oct. 1 and remain in place during phase one Commercial St. construction work to offer relief to area business operators.

More information on transforming Commercial St. courtesy of the City of Nanaimo can be found here.

Rendering of what Commerical St. looking north just past Bastion St. will look like post-construction. Crews started phase one of enhancing Commercial St. in early September. (City of Nanaimo)

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