Construction reader boards have been installed in anticipation of the highway resurfacing project from Oliver to Osoyoos.
Lyonel Doherty photo
For long-term gain you have to put up with a little short-term pain.
That’s how Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson is describing the new highway resurfacing project through Oliver this summer.
Work has begun on the $3 million Oliver to Osoyoos highway upgrade that was announced by Transportation Minister Todd Stone last year.
The project will see repaving from Tucelnuit Drive in Oliver to Highway 3 in Osoyoos (a stretch of 25 kilometres). It is slated for completion this fall.
Stone acknowledged the bumps and cracks in the road, noting the upgrade will create a smoother, safer drive for all motorists. He said the resurfacing will complement the strides the Town of Oliver has made to beautify the downtown core.
But with every highway upgrading job, there will be headaches for the travelling public and businesses along the route.
“Yes, it will make people mad, which is nothing new, but it has been more than 25 years since any work was done (on the highway),” Larson said.
The MLA noted the repaving through town will go fairly quickly, but she acknowledged that work at the intersection of Main and Fairview Road will be more of a challenge.
Mayor Ron Hovanes said the downtown portion is scheduled to be done after the highway portion. He also noted that some capital work will be done at the intersection.
Hovanes said the downtown area is very much in need of resurfacing and the Ministry of Transportation recognizes that.
The mayor said Oliver is fortunate that its request to have this work done was responded to so quickly.
“I strongly believe that fresh smooth pavement will be a huge downtown improvement and it is all sponsored by the province.”
Hovanes said this road improvement will bring visitors to every fruit stand, winery and roadside attraction.
“The disruption will be well worth the improved driving conditions,” he pointed out.
Councillor Maureen Doerr said anything that changes traffic flow through the community has a direct impact on business.
“As I have not directly talked to all businesses, I will say that any improvements done in our community are greatly received by the business community.”
Doerr said council has heard over the past three years how “bad” the highway is, so the Town lobbied to have it resurfaced.
“It is great to have the work starting, no more ‘thud thuds’ as you drive down the highway.”
Tony Munday, president of the Oliver Tourism Association, said there will be some frustration by Main Street businesses when vehicle access is hindered.
“This (project) will create a short-term frustration for some of our shops, but I also believe there is long-term gain in having Highway 97 repaved, improving what is currently a rough drive through the south.”
Munday said the Oliver Visitor Centre will do its best through online and social media to let visitors and locals know that Main Street will still be open for business.
Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff said the project will cause some concerns to drivers because any added traffic in the busy season always slows people down.
“However, I know that any road work has to be done during the good weather.”
Sonia Lowe, public affairs officer for the Ministry of Transportation, said the first contract is the highway resurfacing, with a completion date of June 30. The resurfacing will omit the passing lane section in Osoyoos.
The second contract is Oliver’s arterial road (Main Street) through town, which will be tendered later this summer.
Lowe said the first contract, handled by Peter’s Brothers Construction, will use the hot-in-place recycling method. Contract #2 will utilize the mill/fill method and will see some safety improvements in downtown Oliver. The ministry is currently working with the Town to design pedestrian bump-outs (curb extensions).
Shawn Goodsell, the Town’s director of operations, said work at the Main Street/Fairview Road intersection will include fixing existing pavement that has “shoved” or “rutted.”
Goodsell said they are also looking at changing some line work to possibly fit in an extra turning lane from Main Street (turning right at the old Sabyan lot).
Lowe said the June 30 completion date for the highway contract was chosen intentionally to avoid summer activities and events. She noted the contractor is prohibited from working on statutory holidays and during the weekend of the Oliver triathlon.
Lowe said road closures are not permitted for the resurfacing project, and single lane alternating traffic will be implemented to ensure there are only minor traffic interruptions to the public.
“Access to all businesses and residences will be maintained during construction,” Lowe said. “It is important to note that there will be minor disturbances (noise, etc.) that will occur, as they often do with any construction project.”
Lowe said a ministry representative will be working on site with the contractor to ensure that all impacts are minimized.
She said the greatest benefit that people will see is a smoother and safer travelling surface for tourists, commercial trucks and locals.
Lowe stated that many sporting events, such as triathlons, will benefit from the smoother surface as the Okanagan experiences a higher than normal cyclist population.
Although the highway is not in dire condition, the hot-in-place method is being applied because the asphalt is beginning to age, Lowe said. She also noted hot-in-place recycling is an effective way to receive the benefits of traditional paving at a fraction of the price.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
