The City of Nanaimo will begin cutting down trees along the Nanaimo Parkway and in Beban Park this week to prepare for work on the mid-town water supply project.
According to a city news release, work is starting now to avoid disturbing birds in the upcoming nesting season. Crews will preserve as many trees as possible and will replant many of them when the project is finished.
The project will upgrade water service to central and north Nanaimo and consists of major pipeline trenching along Bowen and East Wellington roads, the Nanaimo Parkway, Northfield and Boxwood roads and through Beban Park to Labieux Road.
RELATED: City of Nanaimo will get started this year on $28.4-million water supply project
A broken water main on Bowen Road in April 2020 interrupted water supply to the hospital and could have caused significant damage to local businesses and residents, so the City of Nanaimo re-organized funding to start the mid-town water project to bolster resilience, support growth and ensure NRGH has a dedicated supply of potable water and a fire protection feed.
The city says the project also supports active transportation by creating a corridor between the E&N and Parkway trails along the water main route with a trail that will be paved through Beban Park.
Tree felling is expected to start Thursday, March 3, and will be happening along the Nanaimo Parkway from East Wellington to Northfield Road and through Beban Park. The public is asked to obey all safety warning signs and keep out of cordoned-off areas.
Short-term construction impacts will occur, but the alignment of the water supply pipelines are designed to avoid major traffic corridors and built-up areas to help keep major infrastructure clear for future maintenance, the release noted.
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