The roundabout being installed at the intersection of Highway 19A and Rockland Road as part of Phase 3 of the Highway 19A Upgrade Project won’t just be a functional means to move traffic more efficiently, according to the city.
It will also contain an artful, architectural feature – the theme of which will be decided upon by the community.
At its most recent Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting, Campbell River City Council narrowed the options for the centrepiece down to four concepts: “Tidal Pool,” “DNA,” “Medicine Wheel” and “Salmon.”
The “Tidal Pool” concept reflects the ebb and flow of the ocean, tides, time, current, contours and convergence – including traffic – according to the concept sheet presented to council at the COW meeting. It will feature blues, greens, whites and pale yellows and warm pinks as the colour scheme, constructed with steel, coloured plexiglass and native plant materials and will be unique when viewed from any angle.
The “DNA” option will represent the genetic and lifestyle make-up of the region. It depicts the city as a gathering place to celebrate nature and being immersed in your surroundings, weaving together the parts that make up the whole.
The “Medicine Wheel” option is derived from indigenous culture and history, representing unity, balance, togetherness, interconnectedness and equality. It is “symbolic of a positive and stronger foundational relationship between the community and indigenous groups,” according to the concept drawings in the city report.
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The “Salmon” themed work symbolizes abundance, fertility, prosperity and renewal, using possibly the most iconic symbol of our region, and will allow for the piece to depict flow and movement, representing a journey – like that of the salmon themselves – along with the area’s natural and cultural history. The four choices will now go out to the public for feedback throughout August before coming back to council for decision in the fall.
Watch for information on how that feedback will be given and received once the strategy for doing so has been decided.
Editor’s Note:
An earlier version of this story said that “Big Rock Legend” is also a theme being considered, but that option was removed from the roundabout feature discussion and will instead be utilized for the Big Rock Park interpretive signage. The Mirror apologizes for the error.