Province to hold public meetings on second Okanagan Lake crossing

KELOWNA – It’s at least twenty years before it will be built but the province still wants to hear what you have to say about a second lake bridge in the Central Okanagan.

A press release from the Ministry of Transportation says two open houses are scheduled next week, one in Kelowna and the other in West Kelowna.

The public meetings are part of a three-year study initiated by B.C. Premier Christy Clark, whose riding of Westside Kelowna will likely see at least one end of any future bridge touch down on its shores.

The transportation ministry says public input into the first phase of the study is important for developing the potential options for future transportation improvements in the Central Okanagan.

Local residents also have the option of giving their opinions via a new website launching May 19. The ministry has not yet provided a web address for the site.

The bridge study encompasses the existing Highway 97 corridor from south of Peachland to College Way in Vernon and includes both the Westbank First Nation and Okanagan Indian Band, the press release says.

The first open house runs from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, at the Ramada Inn, 2710 Harvey Ave. in Kelowna. The seconds runs from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 20 at the Westbank Lions Community Centre, 2466 Main St. in West Kelowna.

To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.