Kelowna

Photo: Castanet Staff

MLA Norm Letnick, Mayor Walter Gray, MP Ron Cannon and BC Transit COO Mike Davis listen as Regional Services Director Ron Westlake begins the groundbreaking ceremony for the transit project.

Work is scheduled to ramp back up on the first phase of construction for transit improvements in Rutland, that is part of a $4.55-million investment and will include a new transit exchange.

The work began last fall, but was suspended due to weather. It will continue on March 4 with utility work on Asher Road. Once that is completed in the third week of March, construction will shift to Dougall and Shepherd Roads – during that phase, Dougall Road North will be closed between Highway 33 West and Shepherd Road.

Access to businesses and homes will not be affected throughout the construction process, but parking will be restricted.

The project will see improvements made on Dougall, Asher and Froelich Roads and the construction of the new Shepherd Road Transit Exchange. The proposed works will include underground utilities, utility relocation from overhead to underground, road reconstruction, pedestrian improvements and streetscaping.

New bus pull outs will also be constructed this year on Highway 33 between Dougall and Hollywood Road, along with bus stop improvements between Rutland Road and Dougall Road.

These improvements are part of BC Transit’s RapidBus Phase 2 and 3 Project, which includes creating and upgrading transit facilities throughout the region.