Driver survives as paving truck plunges into water at Nanaimo ferry terminal

A truck undertaking overnight paving work at the Nanaimo Harbour terminal fell off a ferry trestle and damaged the terminal as it went into the water, but the driver escaped serious injury.

"They were paving the roadway trestle, which is a ramp between the vessel and the parking lot,” said Darin Guenette, public affairs manager with BC Ferries. “The truck was full of asphalt, which it was carrying for the paving machine. The truck got ..donto the passenger walkway, which couldn’t support the weight and it gave way.”

The Royal Paving truck went off the Nanaimo Harbour terminal trestle and fell about 25 feet into the shallow water at about 3:45 a.m. on Aug. 12.

“The driver of the truck, who is a co-owner of the paving company, got out of the vehicle and with the help of paramedics got to safety,” said Guenette. “The paving was going on in the middle of the night because we don’t operate services at this time. The trestle was to be paved and done by about 5:30 a.m.”

The trestle was damaged by the paving truck and deemed unsafe for vehicle passage by B.C. Ferries.

An alternate route plan was established to service passengers and take vehicles between Vancouver Island and Gabriola Island.

The MV Quinsam resumed service from Gabriola Island at 7:40 a.m. and maintained the regular schedule departure times from Gabriola Island and Duke Point.

A water taxi took foot passengers from F Dock at Nanaimo Harbour to Gabriola Island. The paving of the trestle is a small project that is not related to other work that was done at the Nanaimo Harbour terminal this summer.

Earlier work included a new water line, which was constructed in July and early August for a new fire hydrant dedicated to the terminal.

The Nanaimo Harbour terminal and passenger waiting lounge was also renovated between April and August to meet passenger demands during the busy summer season.

The $150,000 was awarded to C&M Developments Inc., which demolished and removed the existing waiting room and washroom building. The project also included the construction of a new waiting room and washroom building.