Repairs and upgrades are currently underway for a section of the Kettle Valley Rail trail between Gillard Forest Service Road and the little tunnel above Naramata.
(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)
May 28, 2021 - 7:30 AM
Users of a popular portion of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail could face some interruption in use over the next few weeks as crews complete maintenance and upgrade work along the route.
The Province of B.C. and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association are providing funding totalling $450,000 towards a trail upgrade that will include rock scaling, drainage infrastructure and trail surface repairs.
A registered professional forester engaged in the project is identifying locations along the trail requiring the use of heavy machinery.
The section of trail affected by the work is between Gillard Creek Forest Service Road in Kelowna south to Little Tunnel above Naramata, and involves both the Regional District of Central Okanagan and the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen jurisdictions.
Tourism Association Director of Destination Development Mike Overend says the project is being funded through provincial funding received last winter. The work has been contracted out to Solano Resources, with the tourist organization contributing $80,000.
Overend says no closures are planned during the work but says trail users should use caution if using the trail during weekdays. No work is being done on weekends.
Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen communications officer Erick Thompson says the regional district is acting for the province as contract administration for the work.
“We are essentially carrying out the work on the province’s behalf, on provincial land,” he says.
The work is scheduled for completion around June 15.
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