$9.7M cell tower project to improve service on Highway 3 in southern Interior

A multi-million-dollar cell tower project is planned along Highway 3 in the southern Interior in an effort to improve service.

The project will expand cellular coverage along 92 kilometres of Highway 3 by adding 11 new cell towers between Hope and Keremeos, according to a press release from the province.

Cellular coverage along this section of Highway 3 is intermittent, with coverage gaps between Hope and Manning Park and between Princeton and Keremeos presenting the greatest challenge, the province said. This project will ensure consistent cellular coverage along the entire route.

“Improved connectivity along essential transport routes like Highway 3 will help keep people and businesses safe when they travel,” Boundary-Similkameen MLA Roly Russell said in the release. “Emergencies like the recent flooding and landslides have highlighted the importance of access to reliable cellular coverage for the safety of people travelling our province.”

The province is investing up to $3.1 million through the Connecting British Columbia grant program towards the towers. The grant will supplement the $9.7 million cost of the project, with the remainder provided by cellular service provider Rogers Communications Canada Inc.

The project is expected to be complete by fall 2024.

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