STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.

Busy road construction season in Nanaimo well underway

Apr 18, 2019 | 1:16 PM

NANAIMO — The City says it’s one of the biggest road construction seasons in years in Nanaimo, with several projects spread all over the city.

Phil Stewart, the City’s manager of engineering projects, said there are many more projects compared to years past, which involves backlogged initiatives from previous construction seasons.

“There’s a few projects that are just your traditional utility upgrade projects. Some are safety related, like the intersection upgrade on Jingle Pot at Westwood.”

Stewart said $35 million of the $50 million budgeted for City road work projects are either underway or tendered.

Stewart preached safety with more vehicles and workers on the road.

“Respect the flags staff and construction workers on the sites, go slow through construction zones, there’s people working just trying to get their job done.”

Notable spring/summer road construction projects in Nanaimo:

  • Seventh St. Pump Station — A pump station will be constructed at the corner of Park Ave. and Seventh St. Work on Seventh between Bruce Ave. and Victoria Rd. is expected to be ongoing for the spring and summer with the overall project finished by the end of 2019.
  • Bastion Bridge upgrades — Bastion St. Bridge Renewal and Seismic Retrofit Project is underway and expected to be finished by the end of August. The Bridge will be closed from May 21 to June 28 while the deck is replaced. 
  • Jingle Pot Rd. & Westwood Rd. — A comprehensive interesection upgrade will see a traffic signal installed, in addition to improvements to pedestrian and cycling facilities. Work is expected to begin in early May and be done by the end of the summer.
  • Bruce Ave. Upgrades — Underground utility work, new sidewalk and bike lanes are planned for Bruce Ave. between Third St. and Fourth St. Construction is slated to begin in June and be finished in the fall.   
  • Hammond Bay Rd. – Road widening, slope stabilization and storm sewer renewal work near the Pacific Biological Station on Hammond Bay Rd. will start in the summer of 2019. 
  • Uplands Dr. Watermain Upgrades – Watermain upgrades on Uplands Dr. between Departure Bay Rd. and Emerald Dr. The project is expected to start in June and be finished by the end of the summer.

 

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW