Sneena Road overpass open to traffic

WEST KELOWNA – The Sneena Road overpass, which has slowed traffic on Highway 97 north of the William Bennett Bridge for close to a year, has finally been completed.

The overpass is a $9.3 million dollar connection between Westbank First Nation lands on either side of the highway.

In an official ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday, Chief Robert Louie and West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater said its completion provides improved emergency access to the Casa Loma area during periods of heavy traffic.

“We are extremely pleased to announce the opening of Sneena Road,” said Chief Louie.  “The new roadway provides an alternate northbound connection to the William R. Bennett Bridge and the connection of our lands beneath the new overpass provides the infrastructure necessary to allow the future development of our local roadways and accommodate local access to the commercial areas.”

Work on the overpass began in the spring of 2014 and was completed on time and on budget, although some minor work will be postponed until the spring when conditions improve.

The project was paid for by the Province and WFN and includes upgrades to infrastructure, street lighting, landscaping and sidewalks. It will also provide cyclists and pedestrians with a safer route from Boucherie Road to the bridge.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.