Highway 97 near Kelowna airport reopened after temporary closure

A section of Highway 97 in the Central Okanagan has reopened after being temporarily closed on Friday because of a jackknifed semi-truck.

Kelowna RCMP say the semi completely blocked traffic on Highway 97, just past the airport, near the Ellison Lake pullout.

The truck jackknifed around 11 a.m., resulting in the highway being closed in both directions at Old Vernon Road.

Police and emergency vehicles were quickly on scene, and traffic was rerouted during the closure.

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“Traffic will still be slow heading through the affected area and motorists are asked to continue to be patient,” Kelowna RCMP said shortly after 2:30 p.m.

Further, police are reminding drivers to slow down, as slippery sections on local have been reported up and down the valley.

“If you are travelling today, give yourself some extra time to get to your destination,” said police, “and leave space between yourself and the vehicle in front of you.”

1:55 Lumby area residents left with unsafe road conditions