The road construction project to repave the entire length of Hwy. 97 between Osoyoos town limits near the Husky Station to Tuculnuit Drive north of Oliver is set to begin this week. The $3 million project will continue through the rest of spring, all summer and into the fall. (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 which will begin soon from Osoyoos to Oliver.
Signs have been erected that indicate construction will begin very soon on the $3 million highway upgrade that was announced by Transportation Minister Todd Stone last year.
The project will see full repaving from Highway 3 in Osoyoos to Tucelnuit Drive in Oliver – a stretch of 25 kilometres).
The project is slated for completion this fall.
Larson acknowledged the bumps and cracks in the road, noting the upgrade will create a smoother, safer drive for all motorists.
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.
Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff said the project would 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,” she said.
Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes said Oliver’s downtown area is very much in need of resurfacing.
“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 would bring visitors to every fruit stand, winery and roadside attraction in the area between Oliver and Osoyoos.
“The disruption will be well worth the improved driving conditions,” he pointed out.
Oliver Councillor Maureen 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,” she said.
Tony Munday, president of the Oliver Tourism Association, said the project will create short-term frustration for some businesses, “but I also believe there is long-term gain in having Highway 97 repaved, improving what is currently a rough drive through the south.”
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, would use the hot-in-place recycling method.
She noted 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 would 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 local drivers.
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 from Osoyoos to Oliver 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 that hot-in-place recycling is an effective way to receive the benefits of traditional paving at a fraction of the price.
LYONEL DOHERTY
Special to the Times
