Departure Bay Pump Station and Forcemain Expansion Project

Hello - thanks for the question. Construction is currently expected to be underway in Segment I near McGuffie first (Note that Segment A is at the Departure Bay end of the route), with Section F to be activated in 2026 as well, but currently expected to start later in 2026 than Segment I. The segment map and high level schedule presented at the January event has not been changed at this point. We will provide continued updates about schedule as it is further refined via this project page. The segment map is available for reference in the meantime under "Document Library" as part of the Event Display Boards . Let us know if you have any further questions,

Hello - thanks for checking in. We know there is a high degree of interest in surface improvements along the corridor, and the City of Nanaimo is looking for opportunities during this project to improve pedestrian and cycling safety, where possible, given limitations in the physical space and costs for improvements. The City is working on analysis of what can be feasible, and we will share updates when they're available.

Hello - thanks for checking in, and for signing up for news updates. We have not distributed any news updates recently as we haven't had any new announcements to make. We've been working to keep this page up to date for people who come and check it, for new visitors and to address frequently-asked questions. We will continue to do so, and send email updates when there is news to share (for example - when the traffic management plan is complete, or a confirmed start date is set).
We've checked the event display board files with a few computers and they seem to be loading clearly. If you would like us to email you a copy, please send us a message at dbsewerproject@rdn.bc.ca - Thanks!

Hello, and thank you for your question. A number of factors affect how the project schedule and construction sequence are developed, including traffic impacts, permitting requirements, and construction costs. The traffic management of this narrow corridor has had a large influence on the sequencing of this project and is being developed to minimize impact to the community.

The construction costs on a large project like this are managed across the whole project budget and are not broken down into sections. This means the costs experienced from the installation of the pipe are continuous and not impacted by the length of the section being constructed. Escalation costs on materials are being monitored closely, and the project team is actively looking at ways to manage these impacts. For example, purchasing materials early and storing them until they are needed is an effective way to reduce these costs.

The team is committed to delivering this project as efficiently and cost‑effectively as possible while minimizing impacts to the community.

Hello - We are currently developing a traffic management plan – a process that includes looking at a range of traffic management approaches to assess how best to maintain flow, meet service needs and enable the project to progress. No decisions have been made about the traffic management plan at this time, as it is still in development. We will share the outcome of that planning process with the community as soon as we're able.

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.