Six Laning of Highway Complete

By Corey Fischer

Nov 19, 2018 | 10:14 AM

A 67 million dollar project to six lane part of Highway 97 in Kelowna is now complete.

Four-point-five kilometres from Highway 33 to Edwards Road was widened along with HOV lane improvements, intersection upgrades to Leathead, McCurdy, Findlay/Hollywood and Sexsmith roads, and a re-alignment of Rutland Road with a new roundabout at Old Vernon Road.

“Our government is proud to have helped make the widening of Highway 97 possible, which will allow residents to spend less time on the road and businesses to move their goods to market safely and efficiently,” says Kelowna Lake Country MP Stephen Fuhr (pictured).

About 40,000 vehicles use that part of the Highway 97 corridor daily.

“Kelowna’s continued growth will mean that number will keep increasing, causing heavier traffic. The completion of this project will help make travel times shorter and help get people where they need to go quicker, through several upgrades,” says a government news release.

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“These upgrades should make it easier and safer for people to move through Kelowna,” said Claire Trevena, B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “They also create a better connection from the downtown core to the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus and Kelowna Airport.”

The $67-million project was cost-shared, with $18 million from the federal government through the Building Canada Fund, close to $1 million from the City of Kelowna and the remainder from the Province. The city also expanded the bus, rapid transit and cycling networks in the area to reduce traffic congestion.

“The widening project and intersection upgrades have enhanced our transportation infrastructure for the long term and will reduce congestion and improve safety in this vital corridor,” says Kelowna mayor Colin Basran.

by Corey Fischer