A $671,000 contract has been awarded to Kon Kast Products Ltd. of Kelowna to install concrete median barriers along a 4.2-kilometre stretch of Highway 97 between Bentley Road and Callan Road.

(KATHY MICHAELS / iNFOnews.ca)

Median barriers will be installed on a stretch of Highway 97 north of Summerland that, in its current state, has long been a call to action.

A $671,000 contract has been awarded to Kon Kast Products Ltd. of Kelowna to install concrete median barriers along a 4.2-kilometre stretch of Highway 97 between Bentley Road and Callan Road.

The barriers will reduce head-on collisions and other crossover incidents, especially at night and during bad weather conditions, the province said in a press release.

Work is expected to start this spring when weather permits and be completed by late May.

There is still a call to build barriers all along the stretch between Peachland and Summerland.

Last year, following another fatal crash, Mick Harper started a petition on change.org that ultimately gained more than 27,000 signatures.

“People are being injured and dying on a particular section of Highway 97 between Summerland and Peachland. In parts the road is steep, has sharp corners, and the slope of the road in the corners is low on the outside, making it dangerous especially in winter conditions. Drivers who go too fast or don't adjust their speed for road conditions often drift into oncoming traffic causing serious harm or death," he said.

New barriers have been installed along sections of the highway between Penticton and Summerland.

Median barriers are also being installed on a 5.9-kilometre section of Highway 97A between Armstrong and Vernon.

Drivers can expect minor delays during this project, as the installation work will occur outside the peak traffic hours of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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