BC Conservative Party promises second crossing of Okanagan Lake

Photo: Colin Dacre - file photo

The BC Conservative Party has promised to build a new bridge across Okanagan Lake by 2032 if they're elected.

The party released its infrastructure and transportation plan Thursday morning, which included a number of commitments across the province.

The most notable promise to Okanagan residents is a second crossing between Kelowna and West Kelowna.

“Commit to a new bridge across Okanagan Lake by working with the cities of Kelowna and West Kelowna to identify a preferred route, then adding the project into the provincial capital plan for completion no later than 2032,” the BC Conservative Party says.

The BC NDP plans to release its entire election platform later in the day on Thursday. But in a report issued by the the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure last year, the provincial government said it had no plans for a second crossing.

“A second crossing is not recommended for further consideration to the 2040 horizon as it has no overall network benefit, results in increases in network vehicle kilometres travelled – and related GHG emissions, and provides only modest, localized relief to the W.R. Bennett Bridge,” the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said in a September 2023 report.

Instead, the ministry said it would work to increase the capacity of the Bennett Bridge.

Additionally, the BC Conservative's committed to rebuilding the recently destroyed Red Bridge in Kamloops, something the NDP government committed to last month.

The BC Conservative Party committed to a number of other infrastructure projects across the Lower Mainland, including expanding Highway 1 to six lanes in Chilliwack, expanding the Patullo Bridge to six lanes, replacing the George Massey Tunnel as soon as possible and building a new Ironworkers Memorial Bridge.

The party also promises to invest in BC Transit services across the province and to “end the ICBC monopoly” on basic auto insurance.

While BC Conservative Party leader John Rustad claims this will lower prices and improve services for car insurance, the BC NDP says studies have shown that vehicle insurance is more expensive in Alberta's privatized insurance market than in no-fault systems like B.C. has.