The Departure Bay Pump Station, along with connected underground wastewater line connected to the Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre, came into service in 1974 (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

big ticket projects

Significant Nanaimo wastewater project poised to get started

Jan 6, 2026 | 6:26 AM

NANAIMO — Critical underground utility work is poised to cause prolonged pain for thousands of north Nanaimo residents.

In a joint news release, the Regional District of Nanaimo and City of Nanaimo announced a pair of pending open houses in advance of an anticipated four-year construction project along a large portion of Hammond Bay Rd.

Slated to begin this spring, upgrading wastewater services between Departure Bay Beach and the Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre (GNPCC) off McGuffie Rd. is expected to be an over four-year project, resulting in singe-lane alternating traffic along the extended corridor.

Traffic disruptions will adjust as the pipe is installed along the route, while the RDN states a traffic management plan is currently being developed.

This utility line referenced in red will be expanded over the next four years. The line is fed wastewater from a majority of Nanaimo, including Snuneymuxw First Nation. (RDN)

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“The project is critical as this portion of the wastewater system is now over 50 years old, moves 75 per cent of the City of Nanaimo’s wastewater and is not keeping up with current or future needs,” the release noted.

Twinning wastewater piping primarily follows Hammond Bay Rd. along the construction route, representing over four-kilometres of roadway.

Also featured in the project is modernizing the Departure Bay Pump Station, located at the north end of Departure Bay Beach, which propels wastewater to the GNPCC.

Open houses to provide detailed information on the work takes place on Wednesday, Jan 21 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Hungarian Cultural Society hall (4840 Hammond Bay Rd), and on Thursday, Jan 22 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Departure Bay Elementary School (3004 Departure Bay Rd).

Aimed at replacing aging infrastructure and planning for population growth, the RDN has further information on the project linked here.

The RDN’s five-year capital plan lists the pump station and wastewater twinning project at over $164 million, with the City’s share of capital costs at roughly $19 million.

Varying surface level enhancements could be installed as part of the project.

Impacted area residents have long advocated for improved active mobility features along the route, which has limited sections of sidewalks.

In a statement to NanaimoNewsNOW, the City’s transportation manager, Jamie Rose, noted he expects more information on potential active mobility investments along Hammond Bay Rd. to arise in the months ahead.

“We haven’t sorted those details out yet. It’s a complex corridor and we need to work with the community to prioritize their highest-level concerns with opportunities,” Rose stated.

Aside from costs, narrow sections, steep grades and driveways lead the list of challenges to create active mobility improvements along the project area.

Pre-construction work along the route later this month will lead to single-lane alternating traffic, according to the RDN.

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