Drivers have been having intermittent issues with the parkade in the past several months.
(LEVI LANDRY / iNFOnews.ca)
July 28, 2023 - 7:30 AM
A downtown Kamloops parkade has been periodically trapping commuters as the aging barricades periodically stop working.
For the past several months, some drivers have found themselves unable to leave as they try to pass through the gate after work.
Arlene Flynn, who parks at the Lansdowne Street parkade each day for work, said at least once a week, someone is stuck and the gate doesn't lift.
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She's seen it lead to traffic jams up to the top floor before it's manually lifted and drivers can leave, echoed by another driver who spoke with iNFOnews.ca.
The City says it hasn't been getting complaints about the gates, however, and it's a private contractor drivers speak to when they call to have the gate opened.
Community services manager Will Beatty said while it's news to him, he acknowledged the equipment is aging.
"I haven't been made aware of any crazy issues," he said. "But we're kind of bound with what we have now and we know it maybe isn't the most up-to-date technology."
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The City has plans to get new parking equipment in the two parkades it owns and for downtown street parking, he said. It's not clear how long it will be before that's replaced.
Anyone using downtown parkades on Seymour or Lansdowne streets can contact the contractor through the machines if they are stuck. In the event of a power outage, Beatty said staff will head to the parkade and operate the gates manually.
Complaints can be directed to the community services department at 250-828-3409.
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