Elliot Road re-opens mid-August but RapidBus program delayed

WEST KELOWNA – The Elliott Road section of the $46 million RapidBus program won't open in July as originally promised.

Utility work delays is the reason given by the District of West Kelowna, however the re-opening of the Main Street to Dobbin Road stretch will happen mid-August, a few weeks from the original date. The construction delay won't effect the scheduled RapidBus Phase 2 start date of August 31.

Motorists should continue using Hebert Road, Old Okanagan Road or Brown Road south of Main Street to avoid this section of Elliot Road.

The Westbank Exchange is part of the Kelowna RapidBus project. Kelowna RapidBus is a $46 million partnership between Transport Canada, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, City of Kelowna, District of West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and BC Transit.

The province launched the project in 2008 to double ridership and reduce greenhouse emmissions in high-growth areas.

RapidBus service will extend to West Kelowna as of August 31, 2014. In total, the region will have six transit exchange facilities and ten new RapidBus stations as a result of the project.