British Columbia Highway 19A

Summary

Highway 19A, known locally as the Oceanside Route or the Old Island Highway, is a provincial highway in British Columbia, Canada. It runs along two former sections of Highway 19 on Vancouver Island, within Nanaimo and between Craig's Crossing and Campbell River. The section of Highway 19A between Craig's Crossing and Campbell River is 136.89 km (85.06 mi) long, and the Nanaimo alignment covers 10.64 km (6.61 mi).[1] The highway was established after Highway 19 was realigned to a new road between 1996 and 2001.

Highway 19A marker

Highway 19A

Old Island Highway
Oceanside Route
Route information
Maintained by British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Existed1953–present
Nanaimo section
Length10.64 km (6.61 mi)
South end Hwy 1 (TCH) in Nanaimo
North end Hwy 19 in Nanaimo
Oceanside section
Length136.89 km (85.06 mi)
South end Hwy 19 at Craig's Crossing
Major intersections Hwy 4A in Parksville
Hwy 4 in Qualicum Beach
North end Hwy 19 / Hwy 28 in Campbell River
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
Regional districtsNanaimo, Comox Valley, Strathcona
Major citiesNanaimo, Parksville, Courtenay, Campbell River
Highway system
Hwy 19 Hwy 20

Route description edit

Nanaimo edit

Highway 19A's Nanaimo alignment begins at Stewart Avenue (Trans-Canada Highway / Highway 1) at the entrance to the Departure Bay ferry terminal and proceeds up Brechin Road to Terminal Avenue. The highway then turns north and proceeds through the northern business district of the city to northern end of the Nanaimo Parkway (Highway 19).

Terminal Avenue between Stewart Avenue and Brechin Road is signed as an alternate connection between Highways 1 and 19A and a bypass of the Departure Bay ferry terminal.[2]

Oceanside section edit

Highway 19A's northern alignment begins at the junction of Highway 19 at Craig's Crossing and hugs the coastline for 14 km (8.7 mi) through Parksville and the town of Qualicum Beach. The highway continues northwest for 37 km (23 mi) through the settlements Bowser, Deep Bay, and Fanny Bay before it meets a junction with Highway 19 at the Buckley Bay B.C. Ferry terminal.[3]

From Buckley Bay, Highway 19A once again hugs the coastline as it proceeds northwest through the hamlets of Union Bay and Royston for 20 km (12 mi) before entering the city of Courtenay. Highway 19A proceeds through the southern part of the city of Courtenay on Cliffe Avenue, then crosses the Courtenay River on one of only two road drawbridges on Vancouver Island (also known as the 17th street bridge), intersects with the main road into Comox, and travels along a bypass around the city centre. Highway 19A then intersects Ryan Road, which provides access to the Comox ferry terminal in Little River and CFB Comox, and leaves Courtenay at the intersection with Headquarters Road. This stretch of highway 19A through the main city of Courtenay is heavily congested. The highway continues inland for 26 km (16 mi), through the communities of Grantham, Merville, Black Creek, and Oyster River before rejoining the coastline at the intersection with Oyster Garden Road. From there, the highway hugs the coastline for 18 km (11 mi), entering the city of Campbell River, passing by the B.C. Ferry terminal at Discovery Pier, and going north and west around the City Centre before terminating at the junction of Highways 19 and 28.[3]

Major intersections edit

Regional DistrictLocationkm[1]miDestinationsNotes
NanaimoNanaimo0.000.00   Stewart Avenue (Hwy 1) – Departure Bay ferry terminalFerry to Vancouver; Hwy 19A follows Brechin Road
0.990.62  Terminal Avenue south to Hwy 1 – Nanaimo City Centre, VictoriaHwy 19A branches onto Terminal Avenue;
unofficial alternate route of Hwy 19A
10.646.61   Hwy 19 – Campbell River, Duke Point ferry terminal, VictoriaJughandle intersection;
northbound entrance, southbound exit
17.08 km (10.61 mi) gap
NanaimoParksville27.7217.22  Hwy 19 – Port Alberni, Campbell RiverCraig's Crossing Interchange
South end of Oceanside Route
33.1020.57  Alberni Highway west to Hwy 4A – Port Alberni, Tofino
Qualicum Beach43.8627.25   Memorial Avenue to Hwy 4 west / Hwy 19 – Qualicum Beach Town Centre, Port Alberni
Comox ValleyBuckley Bay69.9043.43   Buckley Bay Road (Hwy 964:2360) to Hwy 19 – Buckley Bay ferry terminalFerry to Denman Island and Hornby Island; Hwy 964:2360 is unsigned
Royston99.4961.82Royston Road (Hwy 964:2361 west) – CumberlandHwy 964:2361 is unsigned; no access to Hwy 19
Courtenay103.4464.27  Comox Valley Parkway (Hwy 964:2349 west) to Hwy 19 – CumberlandHwy 964:2349 is unsigned
105.8365.76Comox Road – Comox
106.9566.46     Ryan Road – Comox Ferry Terminal, CFB ComoxFerry to Powell River
StrathconaCampbell River141.3387.82  Jubilee Parkway (Hwy 964:2364 west) to Hwy 19Hwy 964:2364 is unsigned
153.83–
153.97
95.59–
95.67
  Hwy 19 (Tamarac Street / Willow Street) – Port Hardy, Nanaimo
  Hwy 28 west (Campbell River Road) – Gold River
North end of Oceanside Route; continues as Hwy 28 west
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References edit

  1. ^ a b Cypher Consulting (July 2018). Landmark Kilometre Inventory (PDF) (Report). British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. pp. 341–348. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 11, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  2. ^ Google (July 4, 2018). "BC Highway 19A (Nanaimo section)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Google (July 4, 2018). "BC Highway 19A (Oceanside section)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 4, 2018.

External links edit

  • Official Numbered Routes in British Columbia by British Columbia Driving & Transportation