11/04/2024
I want to share the following update on the new Cowichan District Hospital that was provided by North Cowichan staff.
Construction of the offsite utilities has been ongoing for over a year, with at least another year and a half of work to be completed for servicing the new hospital. This year has concentrated on third-party utility underground installations to suit the need for power at the hospital during the latter construction phase, as well as municipal utilities along the Bell McKinnon Road frontage of the hospital, the future roundabout, and the intersection of Herd Road and the Trans-Canada Highway.
The intersection of Herd Road and the Trans-Canada Highway has been closed to traffic all summer to replace the existing infrastructure from the highway to Bell McKinnon Road. This includes significant road excavation and widening that will result in two left turn lanes southbound from Herd Road onto the highway, improved right and left turns onto Herd Road, and safer road grade approaching the intersection.
This construction has been very difficult and complex. The discovery of undocumented abandoned pipes, unexpected locations of third-party conduits for signals, and delays in property negotiations have resulted in the road closure being much longer than forecasted. However, work is nearing completion and that can be seen by the grading and shaping of the roadway in preparation for paving.
An outstanding issue of hydro pole relocation is a primary cause of delay. BC Hydro performed some necessary work, but a critical pole remains within the new turning lane area. Scheduling has been difficult, but the contractor, EllisDon, remains optimistic that BC Hydro will return to move the pole shortly, although a date has not been set. Meanwhile, work continues and has included more difficult utility replacement within the future roundabout area.
The Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure is receiving updates, and regular meetings are held to ensure coordination and readiness for the reopening of the roadway. North Cowichan staff have worked with EllisDon on possibly reopening the intersection without the two left turn lanes being operational. The favoured option is to keep the road closed to the end of November, if necessary, to complete the hydro work that will allow the intersection to be completed as designed.
All reasonable effort is being made to reopen the road as soon as possible.
Construction of the roundabout at Herd Road and Bell McKinnon Road is scheduled to begin in May 2025. Based on the recent Kingsview/Maple Bay Road roundabout, it can be expected to be under construction through to September 2025. North Cowichan staff will begin reviewing closure and detour plans shortly with EllisDon. Also, there is anticipation that this work could be done simultaneously with the forecasted repairs of the Herd Road bridge over Richard’s Creek. That work will require a full closure of Herd Road, with Richard’s Trail and Lakes Road as the only possible westbound alternatives. This is similar to the closure that occurred to replace the Chemainus River bridge on Chemainus Road. The timing of the bridge repair affects the traffic management related to the roundabout at Bell McKinnon Road and must be considered.
The fall and winter of 2024/2025 will see the installation of watermains and sanitary sewers along Bell McKinnon Road up to the hospital site. This will not begin until Herd Road reopens but will cause traffic pattern changes for Bell McKinnon Road, which will become closed to all but local residents and delivery traffic as the construction work progresses from south to north. The road will likely be gravel only after installations until conditions are acceptable for paving over the utility trenches in the spring of 2025.
