Final paving underway on Highway 97 from Winfield to Oyama

KELOWNA – A smooth, scenic new stretch of highway from Winfield to Oyama should be open to traffic in a month's time.

Now getting a second layer of pavement, the $77.9 million six-lanes of Highway 97 should be complete by August.

Ministry of Transportation project manager Rampaul Dulay says the project is right on schedule despite the June rain causing a few interruptions in the roadwork.

Once paving is complete concrete road barriers and rumble strips will be installed as safety features in areas with steep embankments. Crews will also install new signs and mark the pavement with yellow and white road lines. 

"It will be a nice drive, it's quite scenic from up there," Dulay says, adding that motorists will be able to travel at an improved speed of 100 km/h.

A third lane going in each direction will be used as a truck climbing lane.

"Also we have two interchanges, a Wood Lake overpass and Grizzly Road overpass," Dulay says, which will be the main access points for motorists to get on and off the highway.

As for the existing road hugging the lakefront, Dulay says they're currently negotiating with the district of Lake Country to downgrade the route to a local road. 

"It will be more of recreational type road," he says, allowing continued access to existing properties and boat launching spots along Wood Lake.

%%embed1%%

To contact the reporter for this story, email Julie Whittet at jwhittet@infotelnews.ca or call (250)718-0428.