Midtown Gateway Project
The Midtown Gateway Project is transforming a legacy brownfield site impacted by past industrial activity into a revitalized neighbourhood gateway. It features new complete street transportation corridors, a new naturalized storm water wetland with public walking trails, and enhanced access to our premier recreation complex - Beban Park.
Once fully completed, the Midtown Gateway Project will:
- Restore a wetland impacted by historical coal mining activity,
- Create over 2km of new off-street active transportation pathways,
- Enhance accessibility to Beban Park,
- Create a public natural area with walking trails, that will also serve as a detention pond during storm events,
- Unlock a development site for a signature commercial and residential gateway development to the City,
- Create a new transportation network that will increase the safety and comfort for people who walk, bike, take transit, and drive, and
- Improve the safe flow of commercial and industrial goods.
Phase 2B Construction Underway
Windley Contracting Ltd., working on behalf of the City of Nanaimo, started construction of Phase 2B in March 2024. This final phase includes construction of the final surface works, including new roadways and active transportation infrastructure, new and improved intersections and traffic signals, public walking trails, an enhanced access into Beban Park, and upgrades to underground utilities on Rosstown Road. Construction is expected to last until Fall 2025.
Current Traffic Advisories
There will be recurring traffic disruptions for the week of June 24 to June 28:
1) Boxwood Road, to the north Northfield Road, will be partially closed at times and will only serve exiting vehicle traffic from businesses at 2300/2310 Northfield Road. Patrons can enter businesses using their other access points on Northfield Road. Eastbound left turns from Northfield Road onto Boxwood Road will not be permitted.
2) The westbound lanes of Northfield Road, near the intersection of Boxwood Road, will be reduced to single lane. Westbound left turns from Northfield Road onto Boxwood Road will not be permitted.
3) Lane closures on Bowen Road, between Rosstown Road and Northfield Road. Access to Beban Park and Beban Plaza may be affected at times, please use alternate access. All park amenities and programs, and all businesses, remain open and accessible. Typical work hours will be 7 am to 5 pm. For your safety, please obey all signs and traffic control persons. 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 also serves as a storm water pond.
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 (Current)
Windley Contracting Ltd., working on behalf of the City of Nanaimo, started construction of Phase 2B in March 2024. This final phase includes construction of the final surface works, including new roadways and active transportation infrastructure, new and improved intersections and traffic signals, public walking trails, an enhanced access into Beban Park, and upgrades to underground utilities on Rosstown Road. Construction is expected to last until Fall 2025.
- Documents
Construction Notices
Click here for a copy of the Phase 2B construction startup notice that was delivered to the area surrounding the project site in March 2024.
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
Below are some infographics for the Midtown Gateway Project.
- Background
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