Safety improvements coming to Highway 97 intersections in Peachland

The provincial government plans to make a few intersections on Highway 97 in Peachland safer this summer.

The Ministry of Transportation is going to upgrade the intersections at Trepanier Bench Road, Buchanan Road South and Buchanan Road North starting later this summer, according to a press release issued today, June 11.

The improvements are meant to make the intersections safer, improve traffic flow and reduce the risk of crashes by making it easier to access the highway.

The ministry is putting in a new traffic signal at Trepanier Bench Road and Highway 97, right-turn only exit from Desert Pines Avenue and no more left turns from Trepanier Bench Road onto Desert Pines Avenue.

Buchanan North and Buchanan South movement onto Highway 97 will also be restricted.

Since 2020, there have been four crashes at the Trepanier Bench Road intersection, 15 on Buchanan Road North and two on Buchanan Road South, according to ICBC crash data.

The most dangerous intersection in Peachland is 13 Street and Highway 97 with 61 crashes since 2020.

These improvements were first suggested in the 2015 Peachland transportation study. The upgrades are part of the Central Okanagan Integrated Transportation Network program meant to improve driving in the region.