Kelowna reveals preliminary plans for Clement Avenue extension

Extension to cost $210M

Photo: City of Kelowna

Visualization of Clement and Spall

The price tag for the first phase of the much anticipated and discussed Clement Avenue extension in Kelowna has been revealed as part of the preliminary design work on the project.

According to a city report, the first phase of the extension from Spall Road to Highway 33 is costed out at $210 million.

However, the cost is in 2025 dollars while construction is not expected to begin until 2028 or 2029, depending on funding.

The 10-year Capital Plan has reserved $135 million in funding as the city continues to advocate for funds from both the provincial and federal governments.

Recommended work through the preliminary design includes intersection upgrades at Clement and Spall, Highway 33 and Enterprise and highways 33 and 97, a multi-lane roundabout at Clement and Dilworth Drive, a roundabout at Clement and Highway 33 and a new traffic signal for the north leg of Hardy Street.

Photo: City of Kelowna

Visualization of Clement and Dilworth

The extended Clement Avenue would include four lanes from Spall Road to Dilworth Drive, two lanes from Dilworth to Highway 33 and four/five lanes on Highway 33 from Clement to Highway 97.

Staff say the lane configuration would maintain the route's capacity at critical intersections while reducing impacts and costs where two lanes would be sufficient.

Safety improvements would also be made to the Okanagan Rail Trail including giving cyclists and pedestrians separate spaces and adding shade trees on the trail..

Two new road and rail trail crossings of the adjacent Mill Creek are also included within the design.

The report indicated the project team will begin transitioning to detailed design work over the winter, and once complete, will advance negotiations with third parties including utilities, regulators, landowners and right-of-way holders.

“These utility negotiations and environmental permits typically take one to two years to complete,” the report states.

Once complete, staff says the extension will provide a fourth route through the city’s Midtown area.

Currently, the city says as many as 105,000 daily vehicle trips travel through the area using one of three routes, Highway 97, Enterprise Way or Springfield Road.

The report says those routes are reaching capacity during peak periods with travel times doubling from just under seven minutes during uncongested times to 14 minutes during the afternoon rush.

The Spall to Highway 33 extension is the first of three phases for the Clement extension. Phase 2 would go from Highway 33 to McCurdy with the final phase taking the road all the way to UBC Okanagan.

Photo: City of Kelowna

Visualization of Clement and Highway 33