Comox Road Closure & Itinerary
Road Closures, Detours, & Things to Do in Comox
Last updated: June 3, 2025
Comox Road has road work and traffic detours starting on March 10. But the good news is that despite the detour, you can still visit the Town of Comox and its vibrant mix of independent stores, eateries, and panoramic ocean-to-mountain views. Here we’ve curated a one-day itinerary with the road closure in mind and shared more details so that you can be fully prepared for your spring adventure in and around Comox.
What can I do in a day in and around Comox?
Your day begins at Church St Woodfired Bakery to pick up a sweet treat, then continue to The Mill Coffee on Comox Avenue for a fresh brew, chai, or matcha. Take both to go and drive five minutes to Goose Spit to start your day in the outdoors. Take in views of the open ocean toward the mainland’s Coast Mountain Range and back toward Vancouver Island’s Beaufort Range the other way. Keep an eye out for marine birds and mammals, from oystercatchers to whales. Walk along the beach and up the Nob Hill Staircase for an incredible perspective of the scenery. Then, having worked up an appetite, it’s time for brunch at Tidal Cafe (open Thursday-Monday).
Next, explore Comox’s many independent stores, almost all of which can be found during a relaxing wander along Comox Avenue. For a carefully curated selection of jewellery, the sweetest children’s toys, and home goods like throws, room sprays, candles, hand-tied bouquets, and even jigsaw puzzles, stop at Wildflower Mercantile. Upstairs from The Mill, Shoppe Kindred stocks an equally beautiful array of kitchen, dining, and home decor, textiles, and a “Little Kindred” collection of children’s clothes. For your consignment fix, visit Sweet Salvage, which stocks home goods and clothing, including vintage and reworked pieces. Just down the street, Coast Surf Shop stocks activewear, outdoor brands and accessories, and a selection of paddleboards. Several other clothing, gift, art supply, and book stores await the curious shopper, for a list of downtown Comox businesses click here.
Cuisine and Culture in Comox
In the afternoon, walk over to Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park for the perfect blend of history and nature. Meander around the nine-acre waterfront property, taking in the many tree varieties, spring blooms (they have an incredible carpet of daffodils), and the historical Arts and Crafts style 1930s residence. Second-hand pieces of glassware and other home goods for sale are dotted throughout the lodge.
Make a final stop at Marina Park and the Fisherman’s Wharf Boardwalk to appreciate the sights of Comox Harbour, before ending your day with a bite to eat from Comox’s thriving restaurant scene. Will it be BC wines and seafood at the intimate Gigi’s Oysters or a mouthwatering pizza at Boonie’s? Ocean and mountain views and tasty tacos, burgers, and other elevated pub-style fare make the Black Fin Pub, Church St Taphouse, and Dockside Comox favourite spots for sunset.
Where is the Detour Route for Comox's Road Closure?
The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD), as part of the Comox Valley Sewer Conveyance Project, is required to implement a traffic pattern change on Comox Road. Beginning Monday, May 12, 2025, the one-way section of Comox Road will move to Comox Hill (MAP 1). One-way traffic for Comox Hill, as well as sections of Comox Road, is estimated to last until September 2025.
The official route turns left at the 17th Street Bridge, travels along Ryan Road, Lerwick Road, Guthrie Road, and Anderton Road to where it meets Comox Avenue. You could also take the route in reverse to avoid the roadworks and the potential of extra traffic.
- Beginning May 12, 2025 construction on Comox Road moves to Comox Hill.
- Right-hand turns at 17th St Bridge have resumed.
- It is possible to drive up to the construction zone at the bottom of Comox Hill, but vehicles cannot drive up the hill to the Town of Comox.
- Businesses OPEN on Comox Rd.
Vehicle Traffic on Comox Hill
Comox Hill estimated to be one-way west until Fall 2025.
- May 12 – June 8, 24 Hrs/Day, One-Way: Traffic on Comox Hill will be one-way 24 hrs/day, seven days a week, moving west from the Town of Comox towards the City of Courtenay.
- June 8 – Early July:
- Daytime, Sunday - Thursday, One Way: Traffic on Comox Hill will be one-way 6:00 am – 8:00 pm, moving west from the Town of Comox toward the City of Courtenay.
- Overnight, Sunday - Thursday, Closed to all Traffic: From 8:00 pm to 6:00 am, the work zone on Comox Hill will be closed to all traffic including bicycles and pedestrians.
- Friday and Saturday, One-way, 24 Hrs/Day: On Saturday's and Sunday's the work zone will remain one-way 24 hrs/day.
- July – September, 24 Hrs/Day, One-Way: Estimated to begin in early-July, traffic on Comox Hill will return to one-way 24 hrs/day, seven days a week, moving west from the Town of Comox towards the City of Courtenay.
Bikes and Pedestrians on Comox Hill
- May 12 – June 8: Two-way bike and pedestrian traffic will be possible through the construction zone 24 hrs/day, seven days a week.
- June 8 – Early July: During the day, 6:00 am – 8:00 pm, Monday – Friday, two-way bike and pedestrian traffic will be possible through the construction zone. However, no bike or pedestrian traffic will be possible through the construction zone at night,8:00 pm – 6:00 am. On Saturdays and Sundays, two-way bike and pedestrian traffic will be 24 hrs/day.
- July – September: Two-way bike and pedestrian traffic will be possible through the construction zone 24 hrs/day, seven days a week.
17th Street Bridge
- Vehicle traffic crossing the 17th Street Bridge will be able to turn right onto Comox Road. Two way-traffic will be possible, but only up to the construction zone. A U-turn route has been identified for traffic to turn around safely.
- Traffic light timing at the 17th Street Bridge will continue to be timed to two-way traffic for the duration of road closures on Comox Road. Traffic traveling east on Comox Road/Highway 19A will be unable to continue through the intersection. This is required to ensure that traffic continues to flow along the approved detour route as per the traffic management plan.
Additional Information
- Cars can travel both ways on Comox Road up to the construction zone.
- A U-turn area is provided before the construction zone at Dyke Road Park South.
- Businesses remain open on Comox Road during construction.
- The approved detour route is Ryan Road to Lerwick/Guthrie Road and down Anderton Road.
- Traffic light timing is being monitored on the detour route to ensure that traffic continues to flow.
- Back Road is not an approved detour route.
- BC Transit bus routes 3, 4, and 15 have been impacted by the construction. Maps of the detours and revised schedules are available on BC Transit website.
Looking Ahead for Comox Road
- Comox Road will be required to close from Farmview to the 17th St Bridge for an estimated two-weeks late August or early September.
- One-way traffic, moving west through construction zone.
- No right-hand turns at 17th St Bridge.
- Please check back for exact dates closer to construction.
Why not use the detour route to your advantage? Stop at Land and Sea Brewing (on the corner of Guthrie Road and Anderton Road) for a locally-crafted beer on the patio. Grab a baked good from the Flying Apron Bakery or have dinner at The Curry Cottage on Anderton Road. Carry on down Comox Road hill and stop in at Totem Design House and I-Hos Gallery, Wolf Shed for vintage shopping, pop into Sacred Earth Metaphysicals and Revival Beauty Bar, and take in views of the estuary at Dyke Road Park. Rove Food Truck has moved from Comox Marina Park to across from the gas station, beside Sacred Earth and Wolf SheD. Rove features a wandering menu as the made-from-scratch offerings change with the seasons, with choices ranging from fresh hand-cut fries to roasted cauliflower korma and thyme-infused bone broth.
Head a little beyond the detour by staying on Ryan Road toward the Comox Valley Airport and 19 Wing Comox to explore the best of Comox’s beaches: Kye Bay, Airforce Beach, and Kin Beach Provincial Park. You could even head a little north to stop at specialty garden stores and plant nurseries, farm stands, wineries, and explore the forest-to-ocean trails of Seal Bay Nature Park.
Looking Ahead
Please visit the project website at EngageComoxValley.ca/ConveyanceProject for a look-ahead schedule, including:
- Construction impacts on Comox Avenue from May – November 2025.
- August 1 to 4 BC Day Long Weekend: Traffic management plans for Nautical Days and Filberg Festival
- Estimated to resume late August or early September, no right-hand turns at 17th St Bridge. Comox Road returns to one-way, westbound from Farmview Road to 17th St Bridge for approximately two-weeks.
