Road closures and highway advisories for Challenge Penticton on Sunday

PENTICTON – Motorists using Penticton and area roads will face delays and road closures on Sunday, Aug. 30 during the Challenge Penticton event.

Drivers using Highways 97, 3 and 3A in the Okanagan – Similkameen are advised lane closures will be in effect along sections of Highway 97 during the race’s cycling portion, with single lane, alternating traffic in place on Highway 97 through Okanagan Falls on Sunday.

Traffic control personnel will be positioned at all major intersections and access points along the bicycle route. Motorists are asked to avoid using these routes if possible during the cycling event. For those using local highways during the race, patience and caution is requested.

Eastside Road will be limited to local traffic only between 7:30 a.m. Sunday and midnight.

Road closures taking place  within the City of Penticton include:
– Lakeshore Drive from Veterans Way to Front Street, from 5 a.m. Saturday until 2 a.m Monday.
– Lakeshore Drive from Riverside Drive to Veterans Way from3 a.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday.
– Main Street from Lakeshore Drive to South Beach Drive from 3 a.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday.
– Martin Street from Lakeshore Drive to Estabrook Avenue from 3 a.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday.
– Westminster Avenue from Martin Street to Main Street from 3 a.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday.

Penticton residents are advised access to and across Main Street and South Main will also be restricted, with access points at the following locations:
– Nanaimo Avenue (emergency vehicles and buses only)
– Eckardt Avenue (RCMP or flagger controlled)
– Duncan Avenue (RCMP or flagger controlled)
– Industrial Avenue (emergency vehicles only)
– Green Avenue (RCMP controlled)

Challenge Penticton is also utilizing the Penticton River channel path for the first time this year. While the channel remains open to the public during the race, residents are asked to keep their pets leashed while on the channel, and to try to avoid impeding the racers’ progress. 

For bus route changes, see the Berry and Smith website.

All medical emergencies take precedence over the race.

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.