Departure Bay Pump Station and Forcemain Expansion Project

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.

Emergency services, along with transit and waste collection, will be prioritized in the plan for moving vehicles through the work zones as efficiently as possible.

The RDN and City of Nanaimo are working with the people delivering these services to ensure they’re prepared for any changes, and to keep them informed.

Replacing and upgrading the Departure Bay Forcemain and Pump Station is a large and complex wastewater project. It involves installing 4,600 metres of 900-millimetre diameter forcemain, which in some places requires the relocation of existing underground utilities or a large amount of rock removal. It will take four years of two-to-three crews working simultaneously to complete the work. The expected typical work hours are 7 am to 7 pm, Monday to Friday. Completing the work over four years helps meet safety and environmental requirements and manage traffic along this narrow road.

While disruptive, the upgrades are critical and will improve the long-term reliability of the system. Parts of the forcemain have been deteriorating since the early 2000s, including an 800-metre section that was rehabilitated in 2021.

A traffic management plan is being developed. It will provide further detail on expected closures, timing, detours, lane changes, signage, and safety measures. It will be posted on this site when available.

Thank you for your input.  We understand that traffic flow during school drop-off and pick-up for Ecole Hammond Bay and Departure Bay Elementary will be important for many families as the construction activity along Hammond Bay Road progresses.  It is a key consideration as we are developing the traffic management plan. Several options are being evaluated and analyzed extensively to minimize wait times and impact to residents.

We hope that you will attend one of two open houses this week, which will include a preliminary construction timing along the route and an opportunity to mark your concerns on a map.

 The display boards and feedback form have also been posted on this site for those who aren’t able to attend the meeting.

Construction on the road is expected to begin in spring 2026 and continue until 2030.  

Hello - the RDN is currently working with traffic engineers on a traffic management plan that will consider the best option for maintaining flow, access and emergency services along Hammond Bay Road during construction. That plan will consider options for alternative routes as well as traffic flow patterns. We'll share the plan and update the community when it's approved.

Hello Leanne - thank you for your message and we certainly understand the significant impact this project will have on people travelling along Hammond Bay Road. The project plan has been developed with this as a consideration with alternatives that would avoid roadway construction assessed (ie: tunnelling). However, this is critical wastewater infrastructure, which is necessary to replace, and after 18 months of technical analysis and planning, the trench-based 'cut-and-cover' method has been determined to be the most successful option.

The traffic management plan - which will answer a number of your questions - is under development now and results will be shared with the community as soon as we're able. The TMP will outline what the best approach is to maintain flow throughout the corridor as much as possible. Our outreach at this time is to raise awareness that changes to traffic management will be coming this spring. In the meantime, we do know a general timeline for when construction will be at different points of Hammond Bay Road (the construction zones will move as work progresses) - we'll have that at our open houses and will share those maps here at the Get Involved Page as well. 

We hope you can join us at an open house to learn more, and information will also be shared here on the project website as it's available. We will continue further outreach to ensure the community understands the plans for traffic management as we approach the start of work.

Hello Keith. The pump station and forcemain are RDN assets.  The upgrade project is being completed by the RDN. The project will be paid for by those who use the infrastructure and make up the RDN's Southern Community Sewer Service, which is 98% attributable to the City of Nanaimo and 2% attributable to the District of Lantzville. All residents of the RDN that utilize septic systems are only responsible for their sewage fees paid to the septic haulers. The haulers then pay the required RDN fees. The French Creek pump station is also paid for by those who use it, and properties with septic systems would not be a part of that service, and therefore, the associated costs.

Thank you for your comments. The narrow corridor does present challenges in terms of design and construction of infrastructure - but the City is looking at ways to improve safety as part of this project, within the resources available. You can follow along here for more information,

Hello - The City of Nanaimo is looking for opportunities to improve pedestrian and cycling safety through the corridor, where possible, given limitations in the physical space and costs for improvements. Watch for more information later this month both here at the website, or join us at an open house Jan. 21 or 22!