Funding for Highway 97A improvements

Improvements are coming to Highway 97A.

Provincial and federal government have announced funding in the amount of $33.7 million to upgrade parts of the highway.

“The addition of two new lanes to this section of Highway 97A will reduce delays and improve travel time through this busy area,” says Shuswap MLA George Abbott. “Having new roundabouts will eliminate direct access off the highway, improving the safety of drivers travelling along this route. It is through collaborative infrastructure projects like these that we can continue to meet the needs of both residents and travellers through the area.”

He says this project involves upgrading from two to four lanes the section of Highway 97A north of Vernon, between Larkin Road and Crozier Road.

It will also include construction of an interchange with roundabout at the ramp terminals and the addition of a local road to connect to the existing highway and the new interchange.

Approximately $12.13 million is being provided from the Building Canada Fund and approximately $21.57 million is coming from the Province of British Columbia.

Construction is expected to be done by fall 2010.