North Okanagan

Two major highways in the North Okanagan can look forward to some major improvements in the next few months.

Photo: Contributed - airephoto

MLA Eric Foster (L), Coldstream Councillor Richard Enns and Minister of Transportation Blair Lekstrom helped to announce the $14M in highway upgrades coming to the North Okanagan.

"As part of the B.C. Jobs Plan, we're working to improve the movement of goods and people by investing in our provincial highway infrastructure," says BC Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Blair Lekstrom.

"These improvements will benefit local residents, tourists and those who use Highway 6 and 97A as trade corridors between the Okanagan and the rest of the province."

Work will begin this summer on a major upgrade to Highway 6 in Coldstream, and resurfacing of Highway 97A near Armstrong.

Approximately 2.2 kilometres of Highway 6 will be realigned between Grey Road and Ricardo Road.

Existing sharp curves will be straightened to improve sight lines and highway shoulders will be widened with an eye to improving safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

"Highway 6 is a highly-travelled thoroughfare, and this section is subject to a higher-than-average number of crashes," says Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster.  "This important project will improve visibility along the route, increasing safety for everyone who uses it."

As part of the project, the intersections at Grey, Kalamalka and Ricardo roads will be improved, with left and right turn lanes constructed. A new crossing of the Kelowna Pacific Railway will also be constructed.

The work will also include enlarging the existing Coldstream Creek culvert under the highway to improve the fisheries habitat.

This project, valued at approximately $11 million, will go to tender this spring. If construction begins on schedule later this summer the project would be completed in summer 2013.

North of Vernon, approximately four kilometres of Highway 97A will be resurfaced, from Crozier to Pleasant Valley Cross Road.

This will complete the highway resurfacing from Vernon to Armstrong and greatly improve safety. The project will cost about $3 million and is expected to be finished by the end of August.Road improvements.

Video of Lekstrom making announcement by Airephoto.