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91ƵGet a helicopter91Ƶ: Best West Kelowna-Kelowna commute option up for debate

Locals debates the best way to cross the William R. Bennett Bridge over Reddit
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William R. Bennett Bridge in Kelowna. (File photo)

Planes, trains or automobiles - what91Ƶs the best way to go about your morning commute from West Kelowna into Kelowna?

None of the above, joked one Kelowna resident on social media platform Reddit recently.

A thread was posted on the Reddit community on May 6 asking for advice as to the fastest way to get from West Kelowna to Kelowna, hoping for some tips and tricks on beating the traffic on the William R. Bennett Bridge.

One reader responded to skip the bridge entirely.

91ƵEither get a helicopter and a license to fly it, or rent one,91Ƶ reads the response. 91ƵOtherwise buy a drone big enough to carry you (or multiple passengers) and which does not require a pilot91Ƶs license to operate.91Ƶ

One of the most popular answers suggests an electric bike. Another simply says, 91Ƶboat.91Ƶ

The modern-day version of the bridge opened in May 2008, to replace the old Okanagan Lake Bridge that had stood for the last 50 years. Now, 14 years later, the bridge91Ƶs daily traffic sits at about 50,000 vehicles.

A by the B.C. government found that with employment sectors like trades and healthcare continuing to grow at a rapid rate in the region, the need to commute will continue to grow as well, leading to even more congestion.

The study suggests that by 2040, the bridge will reach its daily capacity and a commute between Peachland and Lake Country will take 15 minutes longer in the morning commute and up to 24 minutes longer in the evening commute.

The population of Central Okanagan itself is estimated to reach 255,000 by 2034 91Ƶ an increase of more than 36 per cent since 2016.

For those hoping for an alternative route, plans for a second bridge crossing Okanagan Lake were shot down by Kelowna city staff in Oct. 2019, citing a price tag of up to $1 billion.

Reddit may have something after all.

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Jake.courtepatte@kelownacapnews.com

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Jake Courtepatte

About the Author: Jake Courtepatte

Editor of 91Ƶ & West K News since February 2022. I have spent the majority of my career working in the Toronto area as both a sports reporter and a general reporter.
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