South Okanagan highway crews scramble to catch up with road maintenance

PENTICTON – The long, hot summer has left regional highways maintenance crews scrambling to catch up before snow flies.

Ministry of Transportation spokesperson Sonia Lowe says the province’s maintenance contractor’s operations were "significantly affected” by this summer’s high fire hazard rating, restricting their ability to perform even basic duties like brushing and mowing.

Lowe says now that the fire hazard is reduced, Argo Road Maintenance is able to work again, and is working to complete as much as possible before winter sets in. Numbered highway routes and higher volume side roads will take initial priority, followed by local roads.

Motorists and residents with local safety concerns due to the lack of maintenance should notify their local road contractor, so they can be prioritized for more immediate action.

“We appreciate feedback from the public in identifying these potential safety issues, and we also appreciate the public’s patience and understanding,” Lowe says.

Terry Done with Argo says crews are restricted from mowing past 1 p.m., after which they must maintain a fire watch. He says they hope to have most of the mowing done in the South Okanagan in the next two weeks.

“If someone brings us an issue, we’ll try and get to that as soon as possible,” he says.

Residents and motorists with safety concerns resulting from this summer’s lack of maintenance should call their local road contractor. 

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