Key north Nanaimo road rehab project completed

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A new sidewalk joins a raised bike lane on the north side of Hammond Bay Rd. between Brickyard and Turner roads. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Key north Nanaimo road rehab project completed

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Launched over a year ago, prolonged periods of single-lane alternating traffic flows were implemented during prime spring and summer construction periods over the past two years for road resurfacing.

Rose said the City heard from frustrated motorists, including some stuck in traffic jams.

He said some people questioned the rationale behind the project.

Rose emphasized the underground utility work was the core reason behind the initiative budgeted at nearly $6 million. Contractors addressed Hammond Bay Rd. between Rutherford and Turner roads, while work extended south on Turner Rd. to Kenning Pl.

The Hammond Bay Rd./Turner Rd. intersection includes standardized active mobility enhancements, which is heavily used by Dover Bay Secondary School students. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Minor boulevard landscaping and roadway painting still needs to be done.

The intersection at the base of Rutherford Rd. was modernized and narrowed, with the right-turning lane from Hammond Bay Rd. up the Rutherford Rd. hill removed.

Rose said maintaining the long-established right-turn lane was not justified, calling it a “low-volume movement” direction of travel.

The re-vamped Hammond Bay Rd./Rutherford Rd. intersection has been functioning since mid-May.

The removal of the right-turn lane at Rutherford Rd. is the only vehicular movement change to the revamped intersection. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

While more information will arise in the months and years ahead, Rose said the addressed section of Hammond Bay Rd. is more functional for all road users, including the need to reduce speeds.

“It’s not really fair to assess things mid-stream and it’s really important to wait until the product is done to cast judgment on it,” Rose told NanaimoNewsNOW. “I think the plan that was derived and executed is fulfilling its intent.”

The City had hoped to add a roundabout at the Hammond Bay/Brickyard intersection, however escalating costs nixed the plan in June.

Soaring costs shelved the planned roundabout at the Hammond Bay Rd./Brickyard Rd. City transportation manager Jamie Rose said the device could be installed at some point in the future.

Rose expects to present their annual round of Active Transportation Unallocated projects to Nanaimo City Council next month.

He said there could be a small attachment to the Hammond Bay/Brickyard intersection.

“If there’s an opportunity to take another step in the future, we’ll obviously exercise that, but for now we’re going to continue to monitor.”

Nanaimo’s only other significant road construction project of the season is taking place on Third St. between Howard Ave. and the Pine St. intersection.

A “Complete Street” is being established, similar to the project on Metral Dr. completed late in 2022, albeit on a much smaller scale.

Raised and separated bike lanes on both sides of Third St., numerous active transportation features, and a redesigned Third St./Pine St. intersection are surface-level additions on top of underground utility replacements.

Rose expects the Third St. overhaul will be substantially completed and the roadway re-opened in early September.

Work began last fall.

Rose said the City has focused heavily on making Nanaimo a safer and easier place for pedestrians and those on all forms of wheels to get around the city.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what the Census data tells us when it comes out next year with respect to mode shift and how people are navigating through our community because I think in the last almost eight years we’ve been investing a huge amount in those areas.”

View of Hammond Bay Rd. from the Turner Rd. intersection looking toward Brickyard Rd. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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