Construction closure frustrates drivers

Sep 10, 2020 | 2:04 PM

Construction work on one of Vernon’s busiest intersections is nearly complete, after paving overnight.

A re-alignment of Highway 97 at 43rd Avenue includes a right-turn lane for southbound traffic onto 43rd Avenue to ease congestion. A sidewalk along the Vernon Square Mall property has also been installed as part of the redesign.

A Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure contractor was paving Wednesday night through this morning and will continue Friday evening as part of a 10 kilometer re-surfacing from north of 43rd Avenue to College Way.

The closure forced drivers onto side streets in the area and seemed to cause confusion as they tried to get back to, and or, across Highway 97.

Highway 97 and 43rd Ave.

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Some intersections from 43rd Avenue along the south side of the highway will be closed again from about 6:45 p.m. Thursday evening until Friday morning.

The project is being done by the province with repaving from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

“The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is maintaining one lane in each direction on the highway, but turns on and off the highway have to be removed when they pave across an intersection. They will be updating the information on Drive BC,” Christy Poirier, City of Vernon communications manager, said.

The upgrading is part of $8 million in re-surfacing work in the Vernon area this year. The province has allocated $1.3 billion dollars to roadwork in the Thompson Okanagan region this year.

by Kevin Rothwell

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