FILE PHOTO: Stickle Road at Highway 97.

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)

VERNON - After being talked about for years, the government is finally breaking ground on an improvement project for Stickle Road.

The Ministry of Transportation announced today, Aug. 4, in a media release, that preload construction work at the Highway 97 and Stickle Road intersection will get underway after the B.C. Day long weekend.

“This project will improve safety for road users by reducing the number and severity of collisions at this intersection, maintain the flow of traffic along this stretch of Highway 97 and maintain access to Stickle Road for businesses,” the ministry states in the release.

The announcement comes less than a week after residents protested the plan at an event called ‘Save BX Creek wetland trail’.

“Let's send a strong message that we want to keep the wetland as is, and not to extend 20 Street through this shaded walking area,” organizers said on the Facebook group.

Protestors at a rally for the BX Creek wetland trail.

Image Credit: Sustainable Environment Network Society

The first phase of construction will involve replacing the existing boardwalk with a temporary gravel pathway that will tie into the existing boardwalk on the west side of the planned 20 Street extension, the ministry says.

“The new gravel pathway will be available before the existing boardwalk is removed,” states the release.

The plan has been opposed by local residents due to environmental concerns.

“The ministry is committed to addressing environmental impacts during the construction of this project. A comprehensive environmental management plan has been completed and all necessary environmental approvals are in place,” states the release.

The province says mitigative and offsetting measures will include re-vegetation and erosion control, building new wetland habitat and having an environmental monitor on site when work is being done in sensitive areas.

Fencing and signs will be in place to direct pedestrians onto the pathway.

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