William R Bennett Bridge

Image Credit: Submitted/Kevin Hamakawa

A bomb scare closed the Bennett bridge in Kelowna Monday causing commuter chaos, and local BC Conservative MLAs, along with a couple Okanagan mayors, are demanding highway upgrades and a second crossing.

Local BC Conservative MLAs and the mayors of Peachland and Summerland are holding a media conference Jan. 29 at the site of a rockslide in Summerland, that also caused commuter chaos, about the “urgent need for improvements and long-term solutions to Highway 97,” according to BC Conservative Party media release.

Around 3:45 a.m. on Jan. 27 the Highway 97 bridge was blocked by a van that might have had explosives in it since a man in crisis made threats to police and online. The man was arrested and taken to hospital, and traffic resumed after the van was safely removed from the bridge.

“This is a tragic and complicated situation, but it is also a powerful reminder of why we need a second crossing and a broader transportation corridor strategy for both everyday commuters, goods movement, and emergency response,” Kelowna-Mission MLA Gavin Dew told iNFOnews.ca in an emailed statement. 

READ MORE: iN VIDEO: Kelowna man who shut Bennett bridge blames RCMP for ruining his life

The closure disrupted thousands of people’s day, and many people attempting to make the hours-long detour around Highway 97 got stuck on Forest Service Road 201.

West Kelowna-Peachland MLA Macklin McCall said on social media that the bomb scare on the bridge highlight the need for strong emergency response planning. 

"The NDP’s reliance on poorly maintained forest service roads as emergency detour routes left many stranded and vulnerable. We need better infrastructure to keep British Columbians safe," McCall said.

In October, the BC Conservative Party announced that if elected it would build a second crossing within a decade. Kelowna city councillor, and BC NDP candidate, Loyal Wooldridge said it wasn’t feasible.

“Promising this by 2032 is near impossible. By impacting Westbank First Nation lands, reallocations of land would be required with federal government approvals which can take 5 to 10 years. A rough estimate of a new bridge would cost roughly $3 billion or more not including additional land costs and new road connections,” Wooldridge said in a press release issued during the election campaign on Oct. 4.

READ MORE: BC NDP candidate calls BC Conservative promise for second Okanagan Lake bridge 'irresponsible'

The disruption caused by incidents that close the highway, like the bridge bomb scare Monday, the Summerland rockslide, wildfires and more, are why BC Conservatives say the route needs upgrades.

“Highway 97 is a vital route for Okanagan residents and businesses, but repeated closures have caused severe disruptions. The Conservative Party of BC is calling on Premier David Eby and the NDP provincial government to take immediate action to upgrade this critical section of road infrastructure, stabilize slide-prone areas, improve emergency detour routes, and explore alternate road options,” the Conservative media release read.

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