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City of Kamloops hopes to get early start on ambitious project expanding cycling routes

City to pave bike routes

While 2021 may not be the year of the cyclist in Kamloops, the city is hoping to soon begin a project that will add a significant number of bicycle routes.

The plan was for construction to begin in 2022, but grant funding could see work get underway later this year.

In addition to the continuous north-south route connecting Aberdeen to Batchelor Heights, the city is looking at expanding the Summit-Downtown Active Transportation Connection, completing the path on both ends of the Xget’tem’ Trail.

The goal is to have a complete trail from the top of Summit Drive to the Lansdowne transit exchange.

The proposed Summit multi-use path will see lighting upgrades, traffic signals and a separate three-metre-wide pathway that will connect the top of the Xget’tem’ Trail at Notre Dame Drive to the bike lane on Summit Drive at Whiteshield Crescent South.

The north end will be Kamloops’ first two-way protected bike lane at Sixth Avenue connecting to the Lansdowne transit exchange.

“We have studied the traffic volumes and growth projections on 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue in consideration of current use and future growth needs,” said Purvez Irani, the City’s transportation manager, in a press release.

“The width of Sixth Avenue allows us to create a safe cycling environment for all ages and abilities while connecting to our transit system with very minimal impacts to traffic or parking.”

Traffic on Sixth Avenue will be reduced to one lane in each direction to allow for the bike lanes. The city also plans to improve transit shelters and add left-turn lanes on the street.

The project is scheduled for construction to begin in 2022, but council’s authorization will be requested on Jan. 26 to seek grant funding that could see the work begin this year.



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