Hospital Area Project

Project Details

Utility Improvements

Poor soil conditions in some areas have caused sections of the underground infrastructure to settle, and has led to increased maintenance and poor performance of the storm and sanitary sewer systems.

Watermains in the area are mainly cast iron and have reached the end of their service life and need replacing. The water pressure reducing station at Townsite Road and Boundary Avenue is also being replaced as part of this project.

The map below highlights the areas where utility improvements are planned.

Transportation Improvements

In 2014 City Council adopted a new Transportation Master Plan that seeks to shift our transportation mix towards more sustainable transportation modes and provide residents with more travel options.

The Hospital area was identified as a “mobility hub”, meaning a concentration of population, employment and services that should be supported by multiple modes of transportation. Boundary Ave was identified as part of the short term cycling network, connecting the E&N Trail, the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, Woodlands Secondary School and Vancouver Island University.

The Plan also includes the concept of “Complete Streets”, meaning streets that are good places for all road users including pedestrians, cyclists, transit users and drivers.

This project seeks to meet all these goals through a series of street upgrades from just south of Northfield Road to Bowen Road.

Cycling facilities include dedicated bike lanes along Boundary Avenue, Boundary Crescent, Townsite Road, Bush Street and Pryde Avenue.

Pedestrian upgrades include new sidewalks along the west side of Boundary Crescent, as well as improvements to crosswalks at the intersections of Boundary Crescent and Townsite Road, Bush Street and Townsite Road, Boundary Crescent and Graham Crescent, and Boundary Avenue and Nightingale Crescent to narrow the crossings distance.

Transit stop improvements are also planned near the intersection of Boundary Avenue and Nightingale Crescent to make the bus more accessible.

Vehicle traffic changes will include reducing Boundary Crescent to two lanes, adding a left turn lane into the NRGH Emergency access, adding left turn lanes on Boundary Ave and Boundary Cres at the intersection of Dufferin, resurfacing of Bush Street and Pryde Avenue, and all new road markings throughout.