Departure Bay Pump Station and Forcemain Expansion Project

Hello - thanks for the questions. The entire Departure Bay Pump Station and Forcemain project - which includes the installation of the forcemain along the roadway and the upgrades to the pump station - will take four years in total. The work is expected to take that long due to the complexity of replacements, and because the Hammond Bay road corridor has limited capacity to accommodate the significant construction required while maintaining an appropriate level of services to the area (traffic, emergency services, transit, waste collection, water, sewer, etc). The project team is also interested in seeing it move forward as efficiently as possible, and has spent a lot of time planning to balance the community's needs with the goal of maximizing productivity. 

Thank you for your comment and suggestion. The sewage system on Protection Island is a unique and complex "step system" and it is not typically constructed in new developments where gravity sewer connections are available. Retaining the solids in future developments would not make a significant difference to the capacity requirements for the pumpstation or forcemain. The improvements to the DBPF forcemain and pump station are required to meet current demand as well as future possible growth.

Hello RickF - Access to the Charlaine Boat Ramp will be maintained during construction - however, there will be impacts to traffic flow along Hammond Bay Road to access the boat ramp and area parks, and users should expect delays along the construction route. Details are still being developed about traffic management plans and will be shared when available.

 Hello - thanks for your questions. In response:

• A traffic management plan is being developed now that will look at options for maintaining traffic flow. It will consider traffic management, potential alternate routes, traffic light timing, safety for all road users, emergency vehicle and service vehicle access, transit and more. The plan will include an assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of opening the connection between Gulfview and Sundown to balance traffic flow and road safety; at this stage a recommendation has not been made. The overall plan will make recommendations about how best to alleviate traffic along Hammond Bay Road while allowing work to be completed. Construction of new roads though Linley Valley are not being considered.

• The City has heard from residents and neighbourhood associations in the area that pedestrian and cycling safety on Hammond Bay Road is a community priority.  The nature of the corridor creates challenges to achieving upgrades. There may be opportunity to deliver some improvements during the DBPF project and the City is currently reviewing what surface improvements could be accomplished during this project period.  Once there is more information on the potential surface works, it will be shared with the public.

Hello - we understand that construction work on Hammond Bay Road will be disruptive for the many people who work, live and commute through the area. We are currently developing a traffic management plan that will guide the project in maintaining flow as much as possible, and we will share the details of that plan as soon as we're able. As part of the analysis for this plan, traffic engineers look at current flow patterns and assess what traffic management tools will best meet the needs of commuters, residents, emergency services, transit, the construction team and more.  

Hello - Knappett Industries is the civil contractor working with the RDN's project team.

Hello - we understand the duration of this work is challenging, and the project team is also interested in seeing it move forward as efficiently as possible. Work schedules can be influenced by many factors including safety of workers, the public, traffic and more. The Hammond Bay road corridor has limited capacity to accommodate the significant construction required while maintaining an appropriate level of services to the area (traffic, emergency services, transit, waste collection, water, sewer, etc). The team has spent a lot of time planning to balance the community's needs with the goal of maximizing productivity. We will continue to look for opportunities to complete work as quickly as we can - but this is a challenging construction zone and at this time the community should be prepared for a full four-year schedule.

Hello MarcD - We understand the importance of sharing this information with the community as soon as possible, and with notice that allows people to prepare before construction begins. While we don't have a specific date, we are committed to sharing the complete information thoroughly when the final plan is completed. Please be assured that notice will be provided to the community with enough time that commuters will know what to expect and be able to make plans.

Hello AlexK - Planning for the pump station work is still underway, and we will have more information about design as the project moves forward. Construction will start in the meantime on the forcemain, while plans for the pump station are completed.

Thank you for your input. The traffic management plan currently being developed will include several options and measures to minimize wait times and impact to residents. 

The plan will map out details about any required closures or roadway changes, detours, alternate flows, signage and safety management throughout the construction zone. These options are currently being evaluated and analyzed. 

The final plan will be largely dictated by the technical analysis of traffic patterns in the area; however, if there is a particular activity, pinch point or concern you feel we should know about as well, please complete the feedback form on this site.