Council gives green light to Terminal Avenue upgrade project

Better lighting, safer crossings key to making critical transportation link more welcoming

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed June 20, 2023 1:00 PM

Summary

An important gateway to downtown Nanaimo is about to become safer, more welcoming and attractive. Terminal Avenue upgrades including more lighting, better crosswalks, landscaping and traffic signals are on the way, following a City Council vote Monday to increase the project budget by $1.55 million to meet the rising cost of construction.

The City will upgrade storm sewers and replace water mains while Terminal is undergoing re-construction. Construction will begin in early July and continue into late spring 2024. The full project includes:

re-routing sidewalks at Pioneer Square Park and the Italian Fountain to provide a buffer to pedestrians from Terminal; bus pullouts for the #1Downtown/Country Club bus;
upgraded street lighting for vehicles and increased lighting through Italian Fountain Park for pedestrians; improved crossings of Commercial Street and Gordon Street;
new traffic signals at Commercial Street, Gordon Street and Esplanade with real time connection and revised timings to reduce delays;
native and drought-resistant plantings at Italian Fountain and Pioneer Square Park; and,
a cyclist crossing at Esplanade and Terminal.

A grassroots effort called Terminal-Nicol Re-imagined, pushed for redevelopment and a vibrant, thriving downtown Nanaimo and this long awaited project answers that vision.

Link to Strategic Plan: n/a

Key Points

Terminal Avenue is part of Trans Canada Highway 1 and is a critical link for moving people and goods through Nanaimo and the Central Island. Active transportation near the corridor is supported with safe crossing to business districts for pedestrians and improvements to the crossing at Esplanade connects the downtown cycling loop.
Changes to Terminal Avenue will make it safer, more comfortable and more attractive to walk downtown. Improved pedestrian crossings, more lighting and better traffic signals will encourage more people to enjoy travelling by foot, supporting healthy living and a safer community.
Drivers are urged to slow down in the construction zone, pay attention to signs and directions from workers. One lane of traffic in each direction will be kept open at all times to reduce delays and keep people moving.

Quotes

"Refreshing Terminal Avenue supports economic growth by making downtown safer and more appealing for everyone. With a new downtown hotel next to the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, and a passenger ferry to Vancouver opening in August, more visitors will experience Nanaimo for the first time. In addition, public safety concerns are a cornerstone of the project. Increased lighting, natural sight lines, a barrier to discourage people from crossing Terminal unsafely, and more pleasant surroundings will encourage movement through the area, improving safety for everyone."

Leonard Krog

Mayor

City of Nanaimo

-30-

Contact:

For media enquiries, please contact

Communications

City of Nanaimo

250-754-4251

Media.Requests@nanaimo.ca

Print News Release

Is there anything wrong with this page?

Help us improve our website

Don't include private or financial information in this form.

Email Address

What you were doing

What went wrong

Collection and use of your personal information

Information collected on this form is done so under the general authority of the Community Charter and Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA), and is protected in accordance with FOIPPA. Questions about the collection of your personal information may be referred to the Legislative Services Department at 250-755-4405, or via email at foi@nanaimo.ca. Please also see our Privacy Policy.