Casey Richardson
A crash in Peachland that shut down the highway for many hours Tuesday morning prompted the local MLA to say it’s another indication that a secondary route between Kelowna and Penticton is needed.
“Unfortunately, there is only one between Penticton and literally Kelowna [paved] route — Highway 97,” said Penticton MLA Dan Ashton.
“When you have an accident like this, the highway is closed for emergency transfers to Kelowna Heart Hospital [medical needs], it closes the highway for those people who have to work in Kelowna or work in Penticton or work in between. It closes the freeway to people trying to make it to the Kelowna airport. And there’s a huge number of people who are affected.”
Unfortunately, Tuesday’s crash was fatal for one of the participants and also involved a medical helicopter.
Past accidents, landslides and unsafe road conditions have caused complications for safe and expedient travel.
Ashton, along with other MLAs, has long asked the ministry to add safety improvements to the highway and upgrade the 201 Forest Service Road connecting eastern Penticton to Kelowna as a usable emergency route.
“Yes, it’s a dirt road. This is a wider road, a forestry access road. But with a little improvement and only a few turns away, it’s a very good temporary emergency road. And I really hope the ministry continues to look into it.”
The road will also need improved signage, but overall the improvement will not be a massive undertaking. The focus will be on getting the road separated when the highway faces closure.
Ashton added that there aren’t many places in the Okanagan Valley that don’t have two access routes pointing to East Side Road in Okanagan Falls and Black Sage Road to Osoyoos and Oliver, along with dual access routes to get north throughout the valley Okanagan after crossing the Kelowna Bridge.
“The pinch point always seems to be between Penticton and Kelowna.”
The Department of Transportation announced in May that funding had been secured to install a center barrier from Summerland to the south end of Peachland to provide additional traffic safety, but no further announcements have been made.
Ashton said he hopes to see the ministry look at widening the highway through Peachland to help with safety or adding an alternative high-level route around Peachland. He added that he will continue to voice his concerns and encourages residents to do the same.
“Mark my words, for me I will bring it up again. But I think the louder the voices, the more attention it will get.”
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