Photo: similkameenvalley.com

The Crowsnest Highway will be closed at 7th Street in Keremeos for two days, beginning Monday, to allow crews to do soil remediation work.

The village said soil suspected to be contaminated was found under the intersection recently, where upgrades to infrastructure are currently taking place. 

An engineering company was contracted to assess the soil. While drinking water in the underground pipes was deemed safe, the village said there is "a degree of soil contamination."

A detour during the two days is available through Keremeos Bypass Road and 2nd Avenue and 9th Street.

Costs for remediation will be covered by the Ministry of Transportation, the village noted.

The months-long infrastructure improvement project, worth about $1.65 million, is nearing completion, and the affected section of the highway is planned to be repaved on July 3.

The paving work will be followed by "a couple of weeks of sidewalk brick laying and landscaping efforts," the village said, also thanking residents and commuters for their patience during the work.