Public Works & Engineering
The Public Works and Engineering Department operates and maintains the engineering infrastructure essential for a high quality of life in Duncan.
This department delivers key services to the public, including Garbage, Recycling and Yard Waste Collection, Water and Sewer infrastructure management, Parks maintenance, mapping, road works and capital projects.
Road Maintenance
Street cleaning removes dirt and debris from City streets to provide an aesthetically pleasing and healthy environment for City residents. The City’s Sweeper is equipped with a vacuum, which picks up the swept debris and puts it in a hopper at the Public Works yard.
Street cleaning reduces the dirt and debris going into storm sewers, thus enhancing the quality of storm water going into the Cowichan River. Street sweeping occurs every third week during the year, provided ice and snow are not present on the streets.
The City of Duncan does not clean strata access roads. Please contact your strata council or management company for information on sweeping in your complex.
Below are some useful tips to allow for a clean sweep of debris from city streets:
- Remove vehicles (where practical), basketball hoops or other items from the street that may impede the street sweeper from cleaning debris from gutters.
- Keep tree branches, bushes and other foliage trimmed back to prevent them from being tangled in the sweeper’s brushes.
Whenever we have snow, the City’s plows will clear the busiest streets first, then downtown streets, and then residential streets. If snow continues to fall, crews will work throughout the day and night to keep the roads with the highest priority clear before clearing residential streets.
Please remember that owners are required to ensure that snow or ice is removed from sidewalks in front of residences and businesses.
Current Capital Projects
The City of Duncan will be undertaking a number of capital projects in 2023, 2024, and beyond. Many projects are currently in the design phase only. Prior to starting construction on these projects, affected residents and business owners will be provided scheduling information.
Most capital projects are completed by third party contractors. Traffic control personnel and signage will be present at construction sites to safely guide pedestrians and drivers around the construction. We thank everyone for their cooperation and understanding.
Beech Avenue Renewal
Current Status: Construction Complete. Now in Post-Construction Maintenance period.
Location: Beech Avenue from Trunk Road northward to the Duncan Christian School
Project Summary: Remove and replace curb, gutter, sidewalk, asphalt, watermain, sanitary sewer main, and storm main.
Marchmont Road Renewal
Current Status: Final Design and Costing
Location: Marchmont Road from Trunk Road to Day Road
Project Summary: Remove and replace curb, gutter, sidewalk, asphalt, watermain, and storm main. This project will include some speed reduction measures, which may be items such as sidewalk bump outs, speed humps, or pavement markings and signage.
Third Street Renewal
Current Status: Detailed Design
Location: Third Street from Centennial Park to Canada Avenue plus some work across the rail corridor to Duncan Street and northward to University Way.
Project Summary: Remove and replace curb, gutter, sidewalk, asphalt, watermain, and storm main for the length of Third Street. Replace storm main further downstream to the discharge near North Cowichan’s South-end Fire Hall.
University Way Watermain Extension
Current Status: Construction
Location: University Way and Duncan Street westward across the train tracks to Canada Avenue.
Project Summary: Install a watermain and casing under the rail corridor that will interconnect water mains on Duncan Street and Canada Ave.
Day Road Renewal – Phase 1
Current Status: Preliminary Design
Location: Day Road from Trunk Road to Marchmont Road
Project Summary: Remove and replace curb, gutter, and asphalt and install sidewalk and some new storm main associated with grading improvements. Some sanitary spot repairs will be completed.
Eagle Heights Reservoir Replacement
Current Status: Detailed Design
Location: Mountain View Crescent
Project Summary: Remove and replace the existing end-of-life potable water reservoir with a new, larger reservoir.
EV Charging Stations
Current Status: Preliminary Design
Location: Canada Avenue Train Station Parking Lot
Project Summary: Install new BC Hydro Connection and second pad mounted EV Charger across the parking lot from the existing charger.
Cairnsmore Roundabout
Current Status: Awaiting Funding
Location: Government Street and Cairnsmore Street and College Street intersection.
Project Summary: Replace the currently signalized intersection with a new five-leg roundabout. This includes curb, gutter, sidewalk, storm main, watermain, property acquisition, and landscaping associated with the new roundabout. In addition, some asphalt will be replaced down Cairnsmore Street at the same time.
Canada Avenue Complete Streets – Phase 1 (North Cowichan project)
Current Status: Construction
Location: Canada Avenue from Sherman Road southward to near the City of Duncan Boundary
Project Summary: This is a joint project with North Cowichan for streetscape and flood projection improvements. The City’s portion of the project is to replace and upsize the watermain underneath this segment.
Canada Avenue Complete Streets – Phase 2 (Joint Project with North Cowichan)
Current Status: Design
Location: Canada Avenue from the city’s Boundary southward to Beverly Street
Project Summary: A continuation of the streetscape improvements from Phase 1 including curb, gutter, sidewalk, asphalt, storm main, and new multi-use pathway. This project may include some traffic calming measures such as median islands and narrowed laneways.
Default Residential Speed Reduction Project
Current Status: Implementation Soon
Location: City wide
Project Summary: To reduce the default speed limit to 30km/hr with some streets posted to 40km/hr. For more details please visit the Default Residential Speed Reduction Project page.
Coronation Avenue Bike Lanes
Current Status: Detailed Design
Location: Coronation Avenue from the Trans-Canada Highway to Ypres Street, Ypres Street from Coronation Avenue to Queens Road, and Queens Road from Ypres Street to Duncan Street.
Project Summary: To implement traffic calming measures and dedicated separated bike lanes from the highway to the downtown area. This will include curb, gutter, sidewalk, multi-use pathway, street tree relocation, on-street planters, barrier placement, and pavement markings and signage. In addition a one way couplet concept is being proposed with Queens Road and Coronation Avenue between Ypres and Brae Road. For more details please visit the Coronation Avenue Bike Lanes page.
Canada Avenue and Ingram Street Intersection Safety
Current Status: Implementation Soon
Location: Ingram Street and Canada Avenue intersection.
Project Summary: Implement a scramble style crossing for pedestrians where all pedestrian crossings are reserved until a single combined phase where all pedestrians can cross in any direction. For more details please visit the Canada Avenue and Ingram Street Intersection Safety page.
2023 Storm System Flushing and CCTV Inspection
Current Status: Costing
Location: City wide.
Project Summary: Clean and inspect our most vulnerable storm mains within the city. This information will be used to inform future maintenance and capital plans and budgets.
Fish Gut Alley Culvert Replacement
Current Status: Awaiting Funding
Location: Adjacent to the Vancouver Island Trout Hatchery on Wharncliffe Road
Project Summary: To replace two end of life metal culverts and headwall with a new precast concrete box culvert. Requires grant funding to proceed.
McAdam Park Playground
Current Status: Detailed Design
Location: McAdam Park near Beech Avenue
Project Summary: Construct a new multi-faceted playground complete with concrete walkways, drainage, picnic tables, and a water fountain.
Station Street Public Space Construction (Station Commons)
Current Status: Detailed Design
Location: Station Street and Craig Street
Project Summary: Public space improvements to the existing area that include open spaces, washrooms, performing stage, public art, and landscaping among many other items. For more details please visit Station Street Placemaking Project page.
Gibbins Reservoir Life Extension
Current Status: Preliminary Design
Location: Gibbins Road Reservoir between Gibbins Road and Cliffs Road
Project Summary: Assess and reinforce the structural capacity of one of the two existing potable water storage reservoirs at this site.
New Backup Wellsite
Current Status: Feasibility Assessment
Location: City water distribution system
Project Summary: to locate a potential site and assess the feasibility of a new backup water well for contingency purposes within the city distribution system.
Water Treatment Analysis
Current Status: Preliminary Assessment
Location: City water distribution system
Project Summary: Consider implications to expanding the water distribution system treatment capacity.
Jaynes Road watermain
Current Status: Preliminary Design
Location: Jaynes Road from Tzouhalem to Auburn Crescent
Project Summary: Replace 340m of end-of-life watermain.
Bings Creek Washout – Watermain Repair
Current Status: Detailed Design
Location: Cowichan Valley Trail at the Bings Creek Crossing
Project Summary: A joint project with CVRD to repair damage to the trail from BC’s 2021 atmospheric river event. The City’s portion of this project is a small section of watermain that needs to be replaced as part of the the final repair solution.
107 Evans Frontage Watermain
Current Status: Detailed Design
Location: Canada Avenue at Evans Street
Project Summary: A joint project with the adjacent development to replace a portion of the watermain on Canada Avenue immediately adjacent to the development.
Canada Avenue Pay Parking Lot Expansion
Current Status: Complete 2022
Location: Canada Avenue near Evans Street Northward of the existing parking lot.
Project Summary: Add additional pay parking stalls by expanding beyond the north end of the existing parking lot with curb, gutter, sidewalk, and asphalt.
Questions? Please contact Public Works at: 250-746-5321 or email: engineering@duncan.ca
