Work is expected to start shortly on the long-planned upgrades to Northfield Road at Boundary Avenue and Highway 19A in Nanaimo.
The intersections, which are less than 50 metres apart, are being upgraded to make them safer for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. The E&N trail and E&N railroad also pass through the area.
The three roads see a high volume of traffic and the intersections have long been a concern due to the number of vehicle collisions, the City of Nanaimo said in a statement. The Highway 19A portion of the project is anticipated to be finished by June 30, while Northfield at Boundary should be completed by year’s end.
Mike Strain, construction project manager for the city, said that commuters can expect traffic patterns to change frequently as the work moves through different phases.
The project was originally scheduled to be constructed in 2014, but stalled due to a $800,000 funding shortfall. It was revisited in 2016 but was again postponed, this time due to uncertainty about the future of the E&N rail line.
Nanaimo council voted this week to approve an additional $525,000 in funds.
The project’s total cost is expected to be $4.1 million shared between the city and B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation. Council has approved this, said Poul Rosen, Nanaimo’s manager of engineering.
City projects worth close to $43 million are scheduled to see get underway this way.
Other major projects include paving on Terminal Avenue, the Parkway trail development, a new roof on the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, mechanical improvements to equipment at Beban Park and lighting upgrades.
Council has also approved spending $550,000 from its water supply reserve fund to continue replacing water mains in the College Heights area.
