Old coal mining shafts have closed the downtown Nanaimo intersection

Coal mining wells abandoned more than a century ago could delay a major revitalization project in downtown Nanaimo.

The intersection at Bastion Street and Commercial Street will be closed for about two months starting Jan. 2 as crews dig and grout to fill subsurface voids left by old coal mines, the city announced Monday. The area was an active coal mine from 1854 to 1938.

Pedestrian access will be maintained, but drivers will have to detour around the intersection.

The work includes replacing the water main which is part of Commercial Design: Phase 1 Project Area From Diana Krall Plaza on Wharf Street to Chapel Street.

The construction had an impact on local institutions.

“A lot of businesses are definitely feeling the pressure,” said Connor Welsh, general manager of Modern Diner on Commercial Street.

Welch estimated that sales have dropped by about half since the project began in September, but Modern Diner, like many other businesses, is trying to stay positive about the bottom line.

“I think when it’s all done, hopefully by May, there will be a real improvement,” Welch said.

There are five phases to the commercial design project, which is to rebuild the downtown commercial street from Tideline Park to Dallas Square Park. The second phase will see the redesign of Diana Krall Square, while the third phase will include Albert Street to Terminal Avenue. The fourth phase will move the station to Skinner, and the final phase will include Chapel Street and Dallas Square Park.

Planning for the commercial design project began in 2022. A new concrete road is designed to slow vehicles and there will be multiple pedestrian crossings. A painted Pride intersection is planned at Commercial and Bastion and the road will feature retractable barriers, heritage street lights, new bike racks, new soil cells for trees and plantings and new waste receptacles.

The city has known about coal mines in the city center – and several other parts of the city – and confirmed the existence of voids along Commercial Street about three meters below the surface after drilling in the area last year.

“Investigative drilling… uncovered voids that need to be addressed for the safety of crews, protecting underground facilities and reducing the potential for future depressions in the road,” the city said in a statement on Monday.

The crew will pump wet grout into the voids that will harden and stabilize the void areas.

According to the city, there is an operating coal mine under 13 square kilometers of Nanaimo’s 93 square kilometres. Coal mining was a continuous activity in the town and on nearby Protection Island from 1852 to 1964.

While construction is underway in the downtown area, there is free two-hour parking along most of Commercial Street as well as on Levels 2 and 3 of Bastion Street Parkade to help downtown businesses, the city said.

Mayor Leonard Krug thanked the public for their patience.

“Construction and conversions are undoubtedly some of the least favorite words in our city’s vocabulary, however, it is impossible to keep up with our city’s growing infrastructure needs without them,” Krug said.

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