City installing new water, sewer service while upgrading Albert/Fourth Street

Project funded in part from Canada Community-Building Fund, BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed March 27, 2023 11:00 AM

With help from federal and provincial governments, the City of Nanaimo is starting work to upgrade Albert/Fourth Street. The City will replace aging water mains, provide a new fish-friendly culvert for Cat Stream, improve sanitary sewer mains, and undertake safety and roadway improvements on Albert Street between Pine and Milton Streets.

Water main improvements include replacing an aging steel watermain and adding a new watermain on Pine Street to improve water quality and available flow for firefighting and reduce the risk of future failures. The Cat Stream culvert under Albert Street will be increased in size to handle larger storms due to climate change and to improve fish passage.

Infrastructure upgrades provide an opportunity to improve safety and comfort of all roadway users including those who walk, bike, take transit, and drive along this corridor.

With contributions of $846,000 from the Government of Canada’s Canada Community-Building Fund and $500,000 from the B.C. Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program, Nanaimo will include cycling facilities, concrete sidewalks, street lighting, improved transit stops, and a retaining wall to provide additional road width along the S-curve on Albert Street between Pine and Kennedy Streets.

The total project construction costs are expected to be $4.4 million. These costs include $2.2 million for underground utilities, $1.3 million for roadworks, street lighting and retaining wall, and $0.9 million for sidewalks and cycling lanes.

Albert Street between Pine Street and Kennedy Street will be closed to traffic during much of the construction. Access will be available for pedestrians, bicycles, buses, garbage and recycling vehicles, and emergency vehicles only.

Construction work is expected to be completed in fall 2023. For the latest project information, please visit the project webpage at: www.nanaimo.ca/goto/AlbertFourth2

Key Points

• Traffic delays and detours can be expected at all times during construction.
• Infrastructure upgrades will improve water quality and available flow for firefighting, replace aging infrastructure, prepare for climate change, enhance fish habitat and improve the roadway for all users.
• The active transportation component of the project is partially funded through a Canada Community-Building Fund grant ($846,000 value) and an Active Transportation Grant ($500,000 value). The Canada Community-Building Fund is administered in British Columbia by the Union of B.C. Municipalities.

Quotes

“The Canada Community-Building Fund delivers flexible funding to municipalities so that they can prioritize projects centered around what their communities need the most. The Government of Canada will continue supporting these targeted investments in local infrastructure that help build greener and more resilient communities.”

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan,
Minister of International Development and
Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic
Development Agency of Canada, on behalf of
the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc,
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs,
Infrastructure and Communities

“Building more benefits into infrastructure projects for the people who will use and rely on them makes communities more affordable and more livable for everyone. Combining active transportation projects with important public works addresses multiple needs at once and is a great way for local governments to maximize the value of their investment.”

Doug Routley
MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan

"This project will improve City infrastructure - critical water and storm drainage pipes - and help us reach our goals for a resilient and sustainable future. Albert between Pine and Milton will see improved passage for all road users along a somewhat difficult section of roadway. Funding from the two senior levels of government through the Canada Community-Building Fund and the Active Transportation Grant will offset some of the costs for surface improvements, enabling completion of a key transportation route."

Leonard Krog
Mayor
City of Nanaimo

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