91Ƶ

Skip to content

Speed limits on Hwy. 97 still a concern for Peachland council

91ƵIt would just make sense to me to have slow down as the priority91Ƶ, says councillor
32162546_web1_230321-WEK-peachland-moti-hwy97trepanier_1
Detailed design is underway for improvements at Highway 97 and Trepanier Bench Road in Peachland. (Photo/Google Maps)

Coming improvements to Highway 97 through Peachland is good news to district council, but there are still concerns about speed limits.

A Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) delegation presented the Central Okanagan Integrated Transportation Study to council at its March 14 meeting.

Council heard that detailed design is underway to eventually install traffic signals for Trepanier Road and the highway.

91ƵIt91Ƶs many, many millions of dollars to fix that intersection,91Ƶ said Steve Sarret, executive director MOTI Southern Interior. 91ƵWe91Ƶre not just talking about a signal, we91Ƶre talking about access improvements and improvements at other intersections as well.91Ƶ

No timeline was given for work to begin. A protected 91ƵT91Ƶ intersection at Renfrew Road has also been identified as a ministry priority.

Coun. Keith Thom brought up concerns about speed limits on the highway.

91ƵWe have this sort of speed up, slow down, speed up, slow down throughout the town. It would just make sense to me to have slow down as the priority.91Ƶ

Thom added council recently turned down a housing development due to safety concerns about accessing the highway.

READ MORE: 91ƵWe have concerns about the safety of our highway91Ƶ: Peachland CAO after fatal crash

Mayor Patrick Van Minsel noted that in a meeting with MOTI Minister Rob Fleming, speed limits from Princeton Avenue to Antlers Beach might be considered for reduction.

91ƵTo bring it down and also help us with access to the highway with developments that are proposed there,91Ƶ added Van Minsel.

Development along the route was also a concern for Coun. Doug Collins.

91ƵHighway 97 in its current form through Peachland is stifling economic development,91Ƶ he said. 91ƵHere we are with development applications and we91Ƶre worried about the safety of that and so are the residents.91Ƶ

Collins added that having the ministry91Ƶs help in addressing those challenges would benefit the community and also to satisfy the provincial mandate to increase housing.

A bypass route, above Highway 97, is still on the table but is part of a longer-term plan, closer to 2040, according to Sarret.

Mayor Van Minsel also told council that money is coming soon from MOTI to help complete the Westside Trail, connecting Peachland to West Kelowna and out the W.R. Bennett Bridge.

READ MORE: Province eyes additional 91Ƶtransit-only91Ƶ lane for Kelowna91Ƶs W.R. Bennett Bridge: Study



gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com

Like us on and follow us on and subscribe to our daily and subscribe to our daily newsletter.



About the Author: Gary Barnes

Journalist and broadcaster for three decades.
Read more



(or

91Ƶ

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }