Central Okanagan

Photo: Contributed - DriveBC

Hwy 33

The road to Big White is about to be improved, making Highway 33 safer for motorists.

The BC government is constructing a new southbound passing lane along the highway as well as enhancing the Big White Road intersection.

The project will involve the design and construction of a 2.9 km southbound passing and truck climbing lane on Highway 33. The new lane will start 500 metres north of the existing Big White Road intersection and end 600 metres south of brake check pullout.

The Big White Road intersection will be relocated approximately 175 metres to the south to access sightlines. The reconstructed intersection will have a left turn bay, northbound acceleration and deceleration lanes, and lighting, to improve safety for those accessing Big White Road. 

"From local families heading up for a day at the mountain, to the many tourists drawn to Big White Ski Resort, to those who rely on Highway 33 for business, this intersection is well-travelled 12 months of the year," said Kelowna Lake Country MLA Norm Letick.

While Boundary-Similkameen MLA John Slater claimed, "those roads see a lot of rapidly changing winter driving conditions, often when the roads are most busy. Once complete, this will mean a safer, easier drive for residents and visitors to Big White and beyond to the boundary."

The project is valued at $11.3 million and is expected to go ahead before the spring of 2013 with scheduled completion for the end of November 2014.

This fall a $2.3-million project to resurface 11 kms of Big White Road, from 12 kms east of the Highway 33 junction to Kettle Valley Road in Big White Village, was completed.