The Georgia Greenway (Phase 1)
What is the Georgia Greenway?
The Georgia Greenway is a proposed 3.1km active transportation corridor through Harewood that promotes greater pedestrian and cycling activity. Once fully completed, it will link a number of key destinations across the community including schools, parks, sport fields, and commercial areas.
The Georgia Greenway will provide an easier alternative to the conventional bike lanes on Bruce Avenue and will be a more attractive route for families, children, seniors, and lesser experienced cyclists.
Phase 1 Open to the Public
On April 27 2019, Phase 1 of the Georgia Greenway was officially opened for public use. The opening event was part of the Nanaimo Earth Day 2019 celebrations.
The ribbon cutting was preceded by an opening blessing by Ms. Lolly Good from Snuneymuxw First Nation.
Through completing projects like the Georgia Greenway, the City takes another step towards creating a more livable and environmentally sustainable community where walking and cycling are key components of the transportation system.
Click on the image below for a map showing the improvements included in Phase 1 of the Georgia Greenway project.
Want to Know More?
Find even more information under the tabs below, including photos from the construction work!
- Progress
Phase 1 Construction Complete
Below are some photos that show construction of Phase 1:
Above, Bridge foundation piles being installed
Above, Bridge girders being lifted in place with crane
Above, Precast concrete bridge deck panels being lifted into place
Above, Bridge handrails installed
Above, Working on south bridge approach
Above, Preparing base gravels for trailway
Above, Preparing for asphalt paving
Above, Asphalt paving of trailway
Above, Asphalt paving complete, landscaping in progress
Above, Bridge paved and lighting installed
Above, Asphalt paving around washroom building
Above, New concrete sidewalk and intersection crossing being installed on Seventh Street
Above, New signage, road markings and bollards installed at Sixth Street
Above, Ortho Oblique Photo, looking south
Above, Ortho Oblique Photo, looking east
- Documents
- Details
Click on the image below for a map that shows Phase 1 of the Georgia Greenway along with some of the key elements of the project.
Click on the image below for a map showing the planned route of the Georgia Greenway including the recently completed Phase 1 and future phases.
Public Participation
Community feedback was a key component in the development of the Georgia Greenway.
Two public engagement events were held for the project. The first was on May 13, 2017 during preliminary design, and the second was on May 12, 2018. Both events were at the Active for Life Expo, which is an annual event held in the Harewood community that promotes health, wellness and active participation opportunities for all ages and abilities. Public surveys were available at each event, and online, to collect feedback.
The majority of community feedback supported the Georgia Greenway and viewed the Phase 1 project as a neighbourhood benefit that would provide more connectivity with the park and surrounding area, and would create a safe active transportation route for pedestrians, cyclists and families of all ages and abilities.
Environmental Considerations
An Environmental Assessment for the bridge crossing site was completed during the engineering design. This assessment informed the project team of environmental constraints, requirements and considerations for project.
A single span bridge structure using concrete and steel prefabricated components was selected to minimize in-stream works, construction time, and environmental impact.
Even lighting options for the bridge were assessed in an effort to minimize light spillage and impacts to fish and wildlife habitat. The final design included bollard lights along the bridge railings that would provide lower lighting levels directed towards the bridge deck only.
The installation of a bridge at this location also presented us an opportunity to improve the adjacent riparian condition and function by removing invasive plant species and replacing them with species native to the area. This work will be completed in Fall 2019 and includes measures to discourage the public from using the riparian area such as fencing and interpretive signage that educates the public of the importance of riparian, fish and aquatic habitats.
Complete Streets + Georgia Greenway
Complete streets refers to transportation guidelines and design approach that supports safe and comfortable travel for users of all ages and abilities, regardless of their mode of transportation. The Georgia Greenway supports Complete Streets guidelines. Phase 1 is mainly an off street multi-use trailway, but future phases will be more integrated within existing streets.
Want to know more about Compete Streets and how the City of Nanaimo is working to develop our own Complete Streets Guidelines? Check out the project web page at www.nanaimo.ca/goto/CompleteStreets
- Background
The proposed active transportation route was first identified in the 2013 Harewood Neighbourhood Plan. The Neighbourhood Plan includes an Urban Design Framework that is intended to provide overall direction and help guide future development within Harewood. One of the key strategies identified in the plan is to:
The Greenway is also supported by the Nanaimo Transportation Master Plan, the Harewood Centennial Park Master Plan, and the Official Community Plan.
Nanaimo City Council identified the pedestrian and cycling bridge over the Chase River as one of the Top 5 Key Capital Projects and Initiatives in the 2016-2019 Strategic Plan Update.
The pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Chase River is the main component of the Georgia Greenway Phase 1 project, and is an essential first step in this overall active transportation route.
Our goal is to create a comfortable experience for users of all ages, abilities, and confidence level by incorporating a variety of pedestrian and cycling facilities such as multi-use pathways, traffic calmed local streets, and improved road crossings.
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