Slide site could be clear by end of next week

PENTICTON – Several days of uninterrupted work has taken place on Highway 97 at the site of a rock slide that occurred earlier this month but it won't be open any time soon.

Officials with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said in a press release issued today, Feb. 19, work crews have not seen movement of the slide in five days, which has allowed crews to continue breaking and removing rock from the slide face.

Crews are making good progress, with officials optimistic they will be able to reopen the highway by the end of next week.

The slide, which occurred on Feb. 2 between Summerland and Peachland, resulted in closure of the highway after large cracks were discovered above the slide site.

A detour, which is still in operation to all traffic, opened last week on Callan Road just below the highway.

Updates can be found at the Drive BC website.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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