Highway 97 is closed from Callan Road and Okanagan Lake Provincial Park just north of Summerland.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Province of BC
September 01, 2023 - 5:16 PM
Highway 97 near Summerland will be closed over the Labour Day long weekend as the province continues its assessment of the slide area.
Geotechnical engineers found the slope, which saw a rockfall on the highway earlier this week, is continuing to move above the road, according to a news release from the province issued late today, Sept 1.
Around 3,000 cubic metres of rock fell onto the highway on Aug. 28, but there were no injuries in the slide. It's the third time the highway has been closed due to landslides and rockfalls this year.
There's no estimated time it will be reopened as engineers continue to assess the risk for future rockfalls roughly a kilometre north of Summerland, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
One lane is cleared along the highway, but it's restricted to emergency vehicles only and will only take place under "specific site safety protocols," the news release reads. Traffic will otherwise continue to be rerouted to other roads.
"Traffic is moving well on two forest service roads," the news release reads.
Drivers heading between Penticton and Kelowna have been rerouted to 201 Forest Service Road, while traffic between Summerland and Peachland is directed to Trout Main and Peachland Forest Service Road.
Those routes are unpaved and can be up to 90 minutes longer than taking Highway 97. Cellphone coverage is also limited and the province suggests drivers to plan their trips for daylight hours as conditions can change quickly. There is also no passing on the 60 km/h routes, so drivers will have to pull over to let others pass.
Crews will be grading the forest routes over the weekend and conducting dust control, with patrols expected 24 hours per day.
Go here for more information and maps of the detours.
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