Midtown Gateway Project
The Midtown Gateway Project is a highly collaborative brownfield remediation project that has transformed a legacy brownfield site into a new neighbourhood gateway.
The completed project has created a new transportation network that increases the safety and comfort for people who walk, bike, take transit, and drive, all while improving the safe flow of commercial and industrial goods and services.
The project also includes:
- a new engineered wetland that proudly restores an important ecosystem that once occupied the site,
- over 2km of new off-street active transportation pathways,
- a new enhanced access into Beban Park,
- a new public natural area with walking trails,
- and the unlocking of development lands that will further transform the area.
Thank you Nanaimo for your patience during this lengthy construction process!
Project Update:
Beban Parkway at the Bowen and Boxwood intersection will be closed for road repairs from April 23 to May 23. Please use alternate access points for both Beban Park and Beban Plaza. All businesses and park facilities remain open and accessible. Pedestrian and cycling will be maintained during the road closure. Watch for construction signs and traffic control. Thank you for your patience.
Want to Know More?
Check out the recent construction photos gallery, or the additional information under the tabs below.
Or contact us at midtowngateway@nanaimo.ca
Gallery
- Progress
Phase 1 (Complete)
Phase 1 was completed in 2019 and included site cleanup, environmental remediation, initial ground improvements and construction of a new engineered wetland that provides water quality improvement, flood mitigation, carbon storage and valuable habitat for a range of native species.
Phase 2A (Complete)
Phase 2A started construction August of 2022 and was completed in January 2024. Phase 2A included final ground improvements, underground municipal utilities and installation of two large diameter water supply mains.
One of the first construction activities that was completed during Phase 2A was Rapid Impact Compaction to further compact the soils beneath the future road corridors. Rapid Impact Compaction, or RIC for short, is a specialized soil compaction technique that involves using an excavator fitted with a hydraulic hammer to repeatedly strike an impact plate. A brief video of this work can be found here.
The large diameter water supply mains included in this phase connected to the Midtown Water Supply Upgrades Project. Learn more about this project at www.nanaimo.ca/goto/MidtownWater
Phase 2B (Complete)
Phase 2B construction started March 2024 and was completed in February 2026. Phase 2B included all final surface works, and the new all-mode transportation network put into service.
Thank you for your ongoing patience Nanaimo!
- Documents
Nanaimo Transportation Master Plan
The Boxwood Connector, which is part of the Midtown Gateway project, was identified as a major road improvement project in the 2014 Nanaimo Transportation Master Plan
Official Community Plan
The Official Community Plan identifies the project area as an important corridor and envisions a mix of commercial and residential development. Given the geotechnical and environmental challenges, the site has remained undeveloped leaving a large brownfield property in a prominent gateway location.
- Details
Click on the link below for a video detailing some of the challenges and opportunities presented by the Midtown Gateway Project.
- Background
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