Advertisement

Update: Callan Road rockslide detour opens Monday morning

Click to play video: 'New detour around Summerland rockslide'
New detour around Summerland rockslide
A new detour around the Summerland rockslide is opening. Jules Knox reports – Feb 10, 2019

The BC Ministry of Transportation confirms the Callan Road detour will open Monday morning after a series of rockslides shut down Highway 97 in both directions north of Summerland on Feb 2.

The detour, which will be open to the travelling public as of 5:00 a.m., will provide a quicker option for commuters to get between Penticton and Kelowna.

Story continues below advertisement

“This 900-metre detour will accommodate both light vehicles and commercial vehicles. The speed limit along the detour route is 30 km/h. Drivers are reminded they should have good winter tires, obey the speed limit and drive with caution,” said a statement issued on Sunday.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“While this detour is active, there will be occasional periodic stoppages to allow for blasting work. These stoppages will not occur between the hours of 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.”

Until now, drivers were forced to take lengthy forest service road alternate routes, one of which was reported to be in poor condition.

The transportation ministry said those alternative routes are “no longer necessary and maintenance of these routes will not continue.”

Story continues below advertisement

The Callan Road bypass will provide a two-lane detour around the slide zone between Summerland and Peachland. It should add around 5-10 minutes to the pre-slide commute.

Officials said crews built a two-lane connection from Callan Road up to Highway 97 on the south side of the slide.

The quicker detour will accommodate commercial vehicles. Trucking companies have expressed frustration with the lengthy highway detours that add approximately five hours to a round-trip journey from Penticton to Kelowna.

“Extensive work and geotechnical assessments will continue on the slope above Highway 97 and ministry staff will continue to work as hard as possible to have the highway reopened to traffic as soon as it is safe to do so,” said the statement.

Story continues below advertisement

Highway 97 remains closed with no estimated time for reopening.

Sponsored content

AdChoices