Highway 1 at the Tappen Overpass, west of Salmon Arm. (File photo/Province of B.C./Flickr)

By Pete McIntyre

$128 milion

Upgrade to Trans-Canada Highway in Shuswap starts this fall

Jul 24, 2023 | 3:00 PM

A project to upgrade and widen part of the Trans Canada Highway in the Shuswap, is scheduled to get underway this fall.

Emil Anderson Construction, based in Kelowna, was awarded a $128 million contract to improve a 4.3 kilometre section between Ford Road and Tappen Valley Road. The work will take three construction seasons and is expected to be done in 2026.

The project will involve widening the two-lane highway to four lanes and replacing the aging Tappen overpass, as well as constructing frontage roads and a commercial and passenger vehicle pullout.

The work includes a stretch of highway running through Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw, formerly Little Shuswap Lake Band Indian Reserve #5, and will improve safe access on and off the Trans-Canada Highway.

“Upgrading the highway to a modern 100-kilometre-per-hour, four-lane standard will allow traffic to move more safely and efficiently,” a news release from the Ministry of Transportation stated. “Communities will be better connected and businesses will be better able to move their products throughout the province and across the country.”

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During construction, efforts will be made to minimize traffic disruptions.