Construction on the Highway 97 corridor in Kelowna on March 22, 2017 can be seen in this file photo.
Image Credit: FILE PHOTO
November 19, 2018 - 3:00 PM
KELOWNA - Over two years of construction has come to an end as the project to widen of 4.5 kilometres of Highway 97 in Kelowna is finally complete.
"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, in a press release.
The $67-million project, which started in April 2016 after an announcement in 2013, was scheduled to be finished late last year. It transformed the stretch of Highway 97 between Highway 33 and Edwards Road from a four-lane highway into six lanes of traffic.
The province says the highway corridor sees approximately 40,000 vehicles per day. The hope is that the two additional lanes will reduce congestion and speed up travel time.
The project also added more high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in the corridor. Intersection upgrades were made to Sexsmith, Findlay/Hollywood, McCurdy and Leathead Roads. Rutland Road received a re-alignment courtesy of a new roundabout at Old Vernon Road. Bus, rapid transit and cycling networks in the area were also expanded.
The project was cost-shared, with the federal government paying $18 million through the Building Canada Fund, the City of Kelowna giving close to $1 million, and the province covering the rest.
— This story was corrected at 3:05 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018 to say the highway corridor sees approximately 40,000 vehicles per day. Thanks to reader Richard Taylor for spotting the typo.
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