Aberdeen Road and Selkirk Drive closed at Highway 6 Wednesday, June , due to the delayed sanitary sewer project work (Liam Verster / Vernon Matters Staff)

By Vernon Matters Staff

Construction Chaos

Sewer work in Coldstream ongoing more than a week after deadline

Jul 9, 2025 | 10:55 AM

An infrastructure project in the District of Coldstream has fallen well behind schedule, much to the ire of residents on the affected street.

Construction of a sanitary sewer system on Selkirk Drive began June 2, with the district originally stating the work was to be done by June 30.

As of Wednesday, July 9, the work was ongoing, with Aberdeen Road and Selkirk Drive, as well as access to the Regional District of North Okanagan office, closed at Highway 6.

The work affected traffic and access to properties along Selkirk, as well as the community mailboxes.

“The project looks like it’s not even close to being done,” one concerned homeowner said in an emailed statement to Vernon Matters.

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“It’s beyond frustrating. It’s like the District of Coldstream just forgot about us,” another resident stated.

Vernon Matters contacted the District of Coldstream after receiving the letter from the upset residents, and learned the delay was caused by an outcropping of bedrock where the sewer line is supposed to run.

“We’ve been trying to hammer it out with a rock hammer on the excavator, and it’s been way too slow-going,” Janice Netzel, director of infrastructure services with the District of Coldstream, said Wednesday, July 9.

“We’ve got a hydro-vac truck coming out [Wednesday] who will be trying to locate the extent of the rock, and once we know that then we’ll have to do a new design or re-jig where the sewer line is going to go, and then we’ll know how long that will take.”

Netzel added she expects to have a new timeline for the remainder of the work ready by end-of-day Thursday, July 10.

The infrastructure director also said the district has not received any reports about machinery and equipment blocking access to the mailboxes. She encourages people reach out to the municipal hall or Chapman Industries, the company in charge of the sanitary sewer work, to officially file those complaints and have the issues addressed.

Chapman Industries did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Vernon Matters.