A 90-minute closure is planned on Highway 97 north of Summerland this Friday.

Highway 97 will be closed between Callan Road and Okanagan Lake Provincial Park, north of Summerland, on Nov. 24, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. according to a release from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.

The highway will be closed for blasting at the rockslide site. Blasting must happen during daylight hours for the safety of the workers, but the highway will be reopened as soon as it is deemed safe by a work and safety assessment, the ministry said.

The highway will remain open to two lanes of traffic during the winter and a contractor will be responsible for maintenance to ensure the highway remains safe for travellers.

Drivers are encouraged to use Highway 97, but a detour around the slide area on the 201 Forest Service Road will remain open until further notice. Drivers choosing this detour route should have good winter tires, food, water, and fuel with them.

For the latest information on road conditions, visit the DriveBC website here.


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