Nanaimo intersection closes to traffic to address ‘voids’ underneath roadway

The City of Nanaimo has announced that as of Thursday, January 2nd, the intersection of Bastion and Commercial Streets will be closed to traffic.

This closure is due to drilling and grouting work that will take place to fill sub-surface voids. 

According to the City, investigative drilling that was conducted as part of a project to improve infrastructure along Commercial Street revealed these voids or cavities. 

The hollow cavities beneath the roadway must now be remediated for the safety of the work crews, the protection of underground utilities and to minimize the potential for future depressions forming in the roadway.

The intersection will be closed to vehicle traffic, but pedestrian access will be maintained at all times throughout the remediation of the cavities. 

Additionally, businesses will remain open and free two-hour parking is in place along the rest of Commercial Street, as well as on levels two and three of the Bastion Street Parkade.

“’Construction’ and ‘detours’ are admittedly some of the least favourite words in our City’s vocabulary, and yet, it’s impossible to keep up to our City’s growing infrastructure needs without them,” said Mayor Leonard Krog of the City of Nanaimo.

“Thanks for your patience as we work to make Commercial Street and our downtown an inviting, people-first place to be.”

The City says this disruptive road closure will be in place until late February.