Lochside Drive Watermain Replacement

The Town of Sidney is replacing the aging watermain along Lochside Drive, which serves as a primary water feed for the community. The replacement will reduce the risk of watermain breaks, and also make the Town’s water system more resilient to seismic activity.

The Town is replacing the water main using a trenchless pipe-bursting method, which will shorten the length of the time traffic needs to be disrupted in comparison to traditional water main replacement techniques. However, during this watermain replacement, some traffic disruptions will be unavoidable.

This trenchless method was also selected to minimize ground disturbance as the Lochside Drive area is a historical First Nations village site.

Road Closures:

Between October 21st and December 20th, there will be periods of several weeks where southbound traffic on Lochside Drive will be closed to vehicles and cyclists. Pedestrian access will continue, as well as access for neighbourhood traffic and driveways.

Construction will take place between 6:00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Monday to Saturday. These closures will be communicated through signage, as well as this webpage and social media.

Traffic Impact Updates:

November 15, 2024

  • There will be a multi-week closure for southbound traffic on Lochside Drive beginning Monday, Nov 18. Lochside Drive will be re-opened in both directions by December 8 for the Sidney Sparkles Parade.

October 21, 2024

  • The first multi-week closure of Lochside Drive to southbound traffic will begin Tuesday, October 22.
  • As more vehicles rely on Beacon Avenue to access Pat Bay Highway southbound, we encourage residents on the northern side of Sidney to save time and reduce congestion by using the Wain Road overpass to access Pat Bay Highway.

Image: Detour routes during Lochside Drive southbound road closure

Map showing detour route during Lochside Drive watermain replacement