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highways
Push for traffic light at Stickle Road in Vernon continues
VERNON - There continues to be widespread disagreement over what to do with Stickle Road. While the Ministry of Transportation scrapped it’s original plan and is now touting the idea of a protected T intersection, local government officials remain unimpressed. The ministry presented its revised plan to the North Okanagan Regional District board of directors...
Vernon council not happy with provincial government over Stickle Road plan
VERNON - Elected representatives refuse to keep quiet about their concerns around a Ministry of Transportation initiative to modify the Stickle Road intersection at Highway 97 in Vernon. Not only does local government disagree with the plan, which would see the intersection changed to right in, right out only (municipalities want a traffic light instead)...
Province announces major changes to deadly Vernon intersection
VERNON - The Ministry of Transportation has proposed a controversial plan to make the intersection of Stickle Road and Highway 97 in Vernon less dangerous. The $3-million initiative would eliminate risky, left hand turns onto the highway and allow only right hand turns onto Stickle and 97, forcing drivers to take Pleasant Valley Road back...
Snowfall advisory for Coquihalla
KAMLOOPS - Several centimetres of snow has already fallen on the Coquihalla Highway between Kamloops and Merritt and Drive B.C. is warning of more snow for that stretch of highway before the night is over. Drive B.C. is calling for 10 to 15 cm of snowfall for the stretch of highway from the Portia Interchange...
More snow on Interior highways
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - After more than 30 centimetres of snow fell on some Interior highways this past weekend, the white stuff continues to fall. The Coquihalla Summit had more than 30 cm fall in two days and after a one day reprieve, another 6 cm fell at the highway pass overnight. The Okanagan Connector also received...
Late snow to hit Interior highways this weekend
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A spring snow storm is expected to drop up to 10 centimetres of wet snow on Southern Interior highways this weekend. According to Environment Canada, an unseasonably cool frontal system will reach the coast by Friday evening and rain will change to snow over the mountain passes early Saturday morning. So far 5...
Mother Nature’s take on April Fools’ Day: A mix of snow, rain and thunderstorms
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - After dropping upwards of 20 centimetres of snow on some highway passes Tuesday, the first day of April could also bring more rain, more snow and a chance of thunderstorms to the Interior. Temperatures should hit the double-digit mark today, but will hover just below seasonal normals of 12 Celsius to 14 C,...
Recent snow great for Sun Peaks, closes Highway 1 for avalanche control
KAMLOOPS - The last several days have brought a bounty of fresh snow to the higher elevations which is great news for ski hills like Sun Peaks, but is causing concern in backcountry areas and along Highway 1. About 45 centimetres of snow fell at the mid-mountain level in the past week at Sun Peaks,...
Wet start to spring in Southern Interior
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Spring has officially sprung and based on the forecast, you should have your umbrella and rain boots handy. Some in the region woke to rain Friday, March 20, and Environment Canada is calling for more over the next few days. A chance of rain begins today throughout the region and Saturday will bring...
Near-record temperatures on tap for Valentine’s Day weekend
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you were hoping for cooler weather as an excuse to cuddle up with your Valentine this weekend you may have to look for a different excuse. Environment Canada is calling for near-record high temperatures Friday through Sunday, with Penticton the most likely city to set a new record. Penticton is expecting highs...
February kicks off with snowfall
SKI HILLS CELEBRATE THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - February kicked off much the same way January did, with a dump of snow. In Kamloops the snow had mostly tapered off by noon on Sunday, Feb. 1 while in Kelowna a mix of snow and rain persisted into the early evening. Penticton had just a bit of snow on...
Double-digit temperatures on the way
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - It’s nearly the end of January, a time of year when winter can rear its ugly head. Luckily for us Mother Nature has decided to tame Old Man Winter for at least a little while and we can expect temperatures to reach the double-digits across the region. Temperatures will be close to seasonal...
Transportation Minister moved to tears by letter from girl whose family died in car crash
KAMLOOPS – Transportation Minister Todd Stone says his ministry is responding to the concerns of a seven-year-old girl who made highway improvement suggestions after her family died in a car crash near Lillooet earlier this month. Stone was reminded of the latest high priority section of Highway 12 earlier this week when he received a...
UPDATE: Traffic closed on Coquihalla near Logan Lake turnoff
KAMLOOPS - A rolled over tractor-trailer has blocked one lane of traffic on the highway between Merritt and Kamloops. Kamloops Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Steve Kilmartin says the driver is okay, but a passenger has been transported to Royal Inland Hospital. The closure which took effect around 7 a.m. is five kilometres south of exit...
UPDATE: Slow down on the highway and watch your step; freezing rain warning issued
WARNING ENDED FOR CENTRAL OKANAGAN THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Ice is building up on highways, city streets and sidewalks thanks to freezing rain in parts of the Thompson-Okanagan region Saturday. Environment Canada has continued a freezing rain warning for the South Thompson including Kamloops, the Nicola including Merritt, the Shuswap including Salmon Arm, and the North Okanagan...
Freezing rain to hit the Coquihalla tonight
SNOW FORECAST FOR IN TOWN THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you are hitting the highways tonight beware, Environment Canada is calling for a risk of freezing rain. There is a chance of snow on the Coquihalla from Merritt to Hope and Highway 3 from Princeton to Hope this afternoon and evening, but as a Pacific system moves...
Snow hits Kamloops, forecast for Okanagan
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Snow has already fallen in Kamloops this morning and more is on the way as a system moving through the region warms the air. A light snow and temperatures hovering near the freezing mark have led to multiple crashes in the city and Kamloops RCMP asking drivers to slow down and drive for...
Snow tire season is upon us
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Slushy sections hit the Connector for a brief time Tuesday afternoon and as of Wednesday morning winter tires are a requirement on most B.C. highways. While winter does not officially start until late December snow can fall, especially on mountain passes, a lot earlier and as a result provincial regulations require winter tires...
Higher speeds coming to a highway near you
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Three highways will see speed limits increase to 120 km/h today and another 1,300 km of highways will see the increase later this summer. Over 9,100 km of highways were surveyed during a Rural Highway Safety and Speed Review and Minister Todd Stone says several key points are now being addressed — speed...