Satik Bridge reaches construction milestone

PENTICTON – The last of 36 concrete girders were installed on the Satik Crossing Bridge spanning the Okanagan River at Green Avenue in Penticton this week, meaning the bridge is on pace to open to traffic before the end of June.

Penticton Indian Band Chief Johnathan Kruger says the bridge has been 20 years in the making.

“To see the bridge taking shape is a big inspiration for everyone. It’s a 20 year dream finally taking true form in steel and concrete,” he says in a press release.

With construction proceeding on schedule, the next phase involves the construction of the bridge deck in addition to work on Highway 97 to allow for the opening of a full four lanes of traffic before the end of June.

The Green Avenue intersection will be closed to traffic around the same time with detours in effect until October. Summer construction work will continue on the bridge and the Green Avenue intersection.

Channel cruisers will be happy to know Coyote Cruises will be fully operational for the summer season. The Channel Parkway will also be open to this year’s Challenge race.

“We planned our construction schedule to be good neighbours and ensure that everyone can enjoy the river channel and tourist traffic can flow easily during this important tourism period for all of us,” Kruger says.

The crossing will open up approximately 60 hectares of Penticton Indian Band Locatee Lands along Highway 97 for future development that until now has not been accessible. The Penticton Indian Band Development Corporation continues to work with landowners to provide expertise and advice, while also working with the City of Penticton and others to market the area and attract new retail and industrial business to the area.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.