ONE LANE: Highway overpass repairs in West Kelowna later this month

Drivers on Highway 97 can expect delays as repair work on the Westside Road overpass starts on Jan. 22, weather permitting.

The damage to the overpass was caused by a commercial vehicle colliding with the bridge back on Oct. 3, 2023. The offending driver was suspended for nine days and issued a violation ticket amounting to $1,208.

When work begins, the highway's northbound traffic will be restricted to single-lane access.

The repairs are estimated to cost close to $500,000, according to the Ministry of Transportation, and will also take between two to three weeks to complete.

“There are no excuses for these strikes – with the proper permits, a route is provided to guide the load to travel safely through our highway system and avoid the potential for impact with infrastructure,” A ministry spokesperson told iNFOnews.ca.

Funding to cover the repair costs will be recovered from the responsible parties through the ministry’s claims division.

This repair work follows the province's recent announcement that tougher action will be taken to prevent trucker collisions like this in the future.

Trucking companies will now face stronger consequences and escalations for repeat offences, particularly if the company involved has a history of non-compliance. Some companies will face heavier fines and the potential cancellation of their carrier safety certificate, which will ultimately stop their operations within BC.

“Infrastructure crashes have a huge impact. They delay commuters, affect the movement of goods and can impede first responders. This means families, businesses and the economy all suffer,” Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, said in a press release.

In the meantime, northbound Highway 97 drivers should plan for extra travel time in West Kelowna in the coming weeks.

Updated information will be posted on DriveBC before and during the project.

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