To improve safety for people travelling along Highway 19A through the shopping district at the north end of Nanaimo, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is reducing the speed limit to 70 km/h, effective Monday, March 16, 2020.

The lower speed limit of 70 km/h will be in effect on Highway 19A from just south of Enterprise Road through to the Highway 19/Highway 19A junction. This is a section of highway with multiple business entrances and exits, including access to the shopping destinations, Woodgrove Centre and Costco Wholesale. The current speed limit on this section is 80 km/h.

The decision to reduce the speed limit on this stretch of Highway 19A was made following extensive monitoring and an engineering review, and consultations with the City of Nanaimo, RCMP, Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement and ICBC.

Reducing the highway speed limit will help lower the chance of collisions for people entering and leaving the highway along this commercial corridor.

Drivers are reminded that an intersection safety camera is located at the Highway 19A/Aulds Road-Hammond Bay Road intersection. The red-light function of this camera will remain active, while the speed-enforcement functionality will remain deactivated for the next five months to allow drivers time to adjust to the new speed limit.

The remaining speed zones on the Highway 19A corridor, including a section of the existing 80 km/h speed zone, will retain their existing posted speed limits.