Restrictions on channel use until end of the month

PENTICTON –  Those wishing to beat the heat with a trip down the channel need to be aware the channel won’t be completely open to floaters until the end of the month.

Several floaters could be seen travelling south beyond Green Mountain Road in swift current on the afteroon on Monday, June 8.

Penticton Indian Band Development Corporation Officer Chris Scott says floaters are not allowed to use the section of the channel from Green Mountain Road to the Skaha Lake drop off until July 1.

“We are concerned that there are people floating the channel and ignoring the signs, and we do not want any injuries as work continues on the bridge decking,” Scott says in an email.

The channel walkway is also closed to walkers and bikers at the approaches to the bridge construction, though the walkway will open for the Penticton Challenge race.

Coyote Cruises are expected to begin tube rentals at their operation on Lakeshore Drive on June 20, but floaters will only be allowed to the Green Mountain bridge.

Scott also notes traffic is rerouted along the west lanes of the Channel Parkway at Green Avenue this week and access to the street from Highway 97 will be closed in both directions until September.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.