Council airs Old Kamloops Road concerns

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning StarPublished: July 13, 2012 1:00 AM
The prospect of a road being torn up year after year is ringing alarm bells. There is a concern that once the Regional District of North Okanagan is done installing water lines on part of Old Kamloops Road this year, the City of Vernon could possibly initiate major road rehabilitation and a pedestrian trail in the next few years. “For citizens, it creates more angst than anything,” said Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe of residents seeing a road ripped up over subsequent years. O’Keefe insists there needs to be a process where all local jurisdictions come together and determine how projects can proceed in a timely and efficient manner. “We should be able to have a meeting of the minds,” she said. That view also has the support of Coun. Juliette Cunningham. “There’s a lack of co-ordination of planning,” she said. “Nobody is communicating. Maybe we can avoid these kinds of things in the future.” Council has directed staff to assess the condition of Old Kamloops Road within city limits and determine the scope of rehabilitation work required once RDNO is finished with its water line project. Staff will also investigate the feasibility of constructing a roadside trail from 43rd Avenue to Goose Lake Road. “It would require extensive fill and property acquisition,” said Shirley Koenig, operations manager, of a trail for pedestrians and cyclists. The cost to reconstruct the remaining 65 per cent of Old Kamloops Road not disrupted by  RDNO’s water work is about $385,000, while resurfacing from 43rd Avenue north 2.2 kilometres to the city boundary is about $250,000. The estimated cost for a trail is $280,000.