Skip to content

Lake Country won’t see plan to fix Glenmore/Highway 97 intersection for 2 years

The district is still advocating for a short-term fix in the meantime
15031118_web1_190105-WIN-glenmore-road-crash_1
A car crash at the Glenmore Road/Beaver Lake Road/Highway 97 intersection from earlier in 2018. - File Photo

It’s been 10 years in the making, and it’s going to take at least two more.

A planning study which will look at the Glenmore Road/Beaver Lake Road intersection along Highway 97 is expected to take two years, according to the Ministry of Transportation. The highway falls under the ministry’s jurisdiction.

“It’s been studied for the last five or six years, we’ve been trying to get it happening, the province and Ministry of Transportation are really slow on getting that intersection fixed,” said Mayor James Baker.

“We had another big accident on it (Jan. 4) that made a parking lot out of the highway and it’s crazy. It’s a failed intersection and they know it’s a failed intersection and they’re not doing a short-term fix.”

He said the council is advocating for a short-term fix in the meantime until a corridor study is completed, but he said the ministry response has been short-term fixes are “throwaway improvements” if a long-term fix for the intersection is put in place.

READ MORE: Beaver Lake Road has highest number of crashes in Lake Country

“But we don’t seem to be getting a long-term fix. If they’d have done a short-term fix 10 years ago it would have made the intersection a whole lot better,” Baker said.

Until the intersection is fixed, the district will continue to develop roads in its jurisdiction as development continues in that area, Baker said. The district is reliant on Development Cost Charges for road development outlined in its Transportation for Tomorrow plan.

The Glenmore/Beaver Lake/Highway 97 has had the highest number of crashes in the district in 2018, according to ICBC, with 129.

A Chase Road extension, which would connect Chase Road to Okanagan Centre Road West, is currently on the table to alleviate traffic woes on Glenmore Road as part of a rezoning application to change agricultural to industrial land along Dick Road.

READ MORE: Residents voice concerns with dust and noise regarding industrial project

@carliberry_
carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.