New Kelowna bike route opens

A protected bike lane on Sutherland Avenue between Pandosy and Ethel is now officially open.

The two-way bike lane runs on one side of the road. It was partially opened in September but the full opening had to wait until today, Oct 11, for the completion of a pedestrian and cycle bridge over Mill Creek.

“Now that the bridge crossing at Mill Creek is complete, and the bike signals fully operational at the Richter and Pandosy intersections, we’re excited to formally invite the community to start using the new Sutherland bike route,” Gordon Foy, the city’s transportation engineering manager, said in a news release. “The protected bike lanes, with a concrete barrier separating bikes from vehicles, provide a safe and convenient route between popular bike corridors on Ethel and Abbott streets.”

The intersection of Sutherland with Ethel is still not finished so cyclists are asked to walk their bikes through there.

The project included traffic signal and utility upgrades, improved street lighting and sidewalk replacement.

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