Rail Trail nears completion

Photo: City of Kelowna

The 49.5 kilometre Okanagan Rail Trail, stretching from Kelowna to Coldstream is nearly complete.

In an update on the progress of construction, Kelowna council was told much of the former CN Rail line is "substantially complete."

This includes the 12 kilometre stretch through the North Okanagan, 16.2 kilometres through Lake Country, and seven kilometres through Kelowna.

According to staff, those portions are about 95 per cent complete.

Final completion is expected by June.

The trail has been built with compacted aggregate, about four metres wide.

However, some portions may be upgraded, such as the trail between Dilworth Drive and UBC Okanagan, which is paved as part of an alternative bike route for students looking for a safe route to the university.

Not all of the trail has been completed.

The portion from Manhattan to Gordon Drive is expected to be completed shortly, however the 2.3 kilometre stretch through Okanagan Indian Band lands remains on hold, pending completion of the federally administered Addition to Reserve process.

Design of that section is already complete.ALR land through the Bennett property north of the airport has also not been developed, and is fenced off to users while they await feedback from the Agricultural Land Commission.

The Rail Trail will be officially opened Thursday, 11 a.m. at the Oyama boat launch.