Highway 97 detour opening Monday, ministry

SUMMERLAND – Officials say a detour to avoid the Highway 97 rockslide will be open tomorrow.

Drivers will be able to use Callan Road as a detour starting tomorrow, Feb. 11 at 5 a.m. according to a Ministry of Transportation media release.

The release calls the 900-metre, 30 km/hr detour a "safe, two-lane direct route" around the highway that has been closed for over a week, north of Summerland. Drivers are advised to expect periodic stoppages to allow for blasting work while the detour is active. The blasts are not scheduled between the hours of 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

"Extensive work and geotechnical assessments will continue on the slope above Highway 97," the release says. "And ministry staff will continue to work as hard as possible to have the highway reopened to traffic as soon as it is safe to do so."

All vehicles must have winter tires on this detour. Commercial vehicles are allowed but those that exceed 3.8 metres in width are only permitted between midnight and 5 a.m. 

Pedestrians and cyclists are not allowed on the detour.

Argo Road Maintenance is set to monitor Callan Road, and will carry out snow plowing and sanding along the route as necessary.

"The alternative routes previously provided by forest service roads are no longer necessary and maintenance of these routes will not continue," the release says.

See Drive B.C. for the latest road conditions.

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