NANAIMO — With increased diverted traffic incoming, a signaled traffic light is coming to Rutherford Rd. ahead of a significant Regional District of Nanaimo infrastructure project.
James Haddou, RDN capital project delivery manager, expects a new traffic signal on Rutherford Rd. at Vanderneuk Rd. to be installed starting in mid-November, with the work expected to be done a few weeks later.
“Subsequently between then and the end of Q1 (end of March) we’ll be implementing other improvements like traffic calming and some form of improvement at the intersection of Departure Bay and Uplands as well.”
Haddou said it has yet to be determined what will be done at the Departure Bay Rd. and Uplands Dr. junction, which is considered the other notable pre-sewer construction intersection project to be dealt with.
During peak times traffic lines tends to pile up on Vanderneuk Rd. for motorists attempting to turn left onto Rutherford. Rd. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)
He said the RDN is still in the process of “determining the exact scopes and locations” of numerous traffic calming projects.
The work is to ready a bypass route along Departure Bay Rd., Uplands Dr., and Rutherford Rd., which is expected to absorb the majority of detoured traffic around an extended wastewater improvement construction zone on Hammond Bay Rd.
Contractors on behalf of the RDN will upgrade the Departure Bay Pump Station and twin the sewer line from the station beneath a four-kilometre stretch of Hammond Bay Rd. to the Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre (GNPCC) off McGuffie Rd.
Last spring, a traffic management plan was outlined, which established traffic flow guidance, as well as various recommended traffic calming measures.
Southbound traffic on Hammond Bay Rd. between McGuffie and Departure Bay roads will persist through the applicable construction zone, while northbound (counter-clockwise) traffic won’t be able to navigate the entirety of the project area.
Haddou said the anticipated construction completion has been pushed back to the middle of 2031 from the end of 2030.
“We’ve hit pause on starting and putting the time into making sure we’re dialling in the traffic management plan and strategy,” Haddou said.
At this point, the RDN expects one-way traffic to be in place on Hammond Bay Rd. starting early next year.
Ongoing preliminary ground investigations are resulting in isolated, minor delays along Hammond Bay Rd.
The project presents the opportunity for potential surface-level active transportation enhancements to be done.
Jamie Rose, the City of Nanaimo’s transportation manager, told NanaimoNewsNOW that he expects various options along Hammond Bay Rd. to be presented to city council next spring.
He added the City will evaluate the traffic management features being added by the RDN and will evaluate post-construction if the changes will remain in place or be removed.
Extensive background information and updates on the Departure Bay Pump Station and Foremain Expansion Project are available on the RDN’s Get Involved page linked here.
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