British Columbia Highway 19A

Coordinates: 49°12′18.1″N 124°0′21.4″W / 49.205028°N 124.005944°W

Highway 19A
Island Highway Oceanside Route
Route information
Length:	135 km (84 mi)
Existed:	1953 – present
Major junctions
South end:	BC 1 in Nanaimo
North end:	BC 28 in Campbell River
Highway system
British Columbia provincial highways ← BC 19 BC 20 →

Highway 19A, known locally as the Oceanside Route or the Old Island Highway, is composed of the original 1953 alignments of Highway 19 within Nanaimo and between Craig's Crossing and Campbell River. The section of Highway 19A between Craig's Crossing and Campbell River is 123 km (76 mi) long, and the Nanaimo alignment covers 12 km (7 mi).

Route Details

Highway 19A's northern alignment begins at the junction with Highways 19 and 28 in Campbell River, and goes east through the City Centre, passing by the B.C. Ferry terminal at Discovery Pier. From there, the highway hugs the coastline for 18 km (11 mi) before veering inland at the intersection with Oyster Garden Road. The highway continues inland for 26 km (16 mi), through the communities of Oyster River, Black Creek, Merville, and Grantham before entering the city of Courtenay at the intersection with Headquarters Road. After Ryan Road, Highway 19A travels along a bypass around the city centre, then crosses the Courtenay River on one of only two road drawbridges on Vancouver Island. Highway 19A then proceeds through the southern part of the city of Courtenay on Cliffe Avenue before finally leaving the city at Anfield Road. From Courtenay, Highway 19A once again hugs the coastline as it proceeds southeast through the hamlets of Royston and Union Bay. Highway 19A meets a junction with Highway 19 at the Buckley Bay B.C. Ferry terminal, 20 km (12 mi) south of Courtenay.

From Buckley Bay, Highway 19A continues southeast for 37 km (23 mi) through the settlements of Fanny Bay and Deep Bay, as well as a junction with Bowser, finally entering the town of Qualicum Beach at an intersection with Kinkade Road. The highway continues to hug the coastline in its remaining 14 km (9 mi) through Qualicum Beach and Parksville before finally meeting Highway 19 at Craig's Crossing.

Highway 19A's Nanaimo alignment begins just off the northern end of the Nanaimo Parkway, proceeds through the north business district of the city, then turns down Brechin Road to terminate at an intersection with the Trans-Canada Highway at the entrance to the Departure Bay ferry terminal.