Province looking to save three sections of Kettle Valley Rail Trail damaged by flooding

The provincial government is set to start decommissioning part of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, but the hope is to repair part of it.

There’s a 67 kilometre stretch between Princeton and the Coquihalla Highway that was damaged by flooding in 2021. Initially the plan was to decommission the entire section, but now things have changed.

The Ministry of Parks is going to start decommissioning a 17 km segment near Brookmere this summer and that work could take a year. Bidding for the project opens on BC Bid on June 19.

There are damaged trestles and landslide areas that are too dangerous and the province said it would cost around $5.1 million to repair, so it’s going to be decommissioned.

The ministry is working with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and the Town of Princeton to look into fixing other parts of the 67 km section that was damaged in the flooding.

Politicians like Conservative MP for Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay Helena Konanz and Princeton Mayor Spencer Coyne have been vocal about the community’s desire to save the trail. An online petition to save it has garnered 12,795 signatures as well.

The province has agreed to try to repair three sections: the bridge west of Princeton, and access to both Parr Tunnel and Whitesands Beach.

It would cost $20 million to safely decommission those sections of the trail and around $60 million to repair and maintain it.

“The KVR is an important recreational, historical, and economic asset. It supports tourism, local businesses, outdoor recreation, and public access to natural spaces, while preserving a key piece of British Columbia’s transportation and settlement history,” the petition reads.

It will be months before decisions will be made about whether the government can come up with the money to save the three sections of trail. The regional district is considering finding money for the trail and the province is trying to get some federal funding.

A decision is expected at the end of the year to see if parts of the trail can be repaired.