Ministry staff say about 85 people attended a public open house at Oliver’s Legion Hall Thursday to see plans for passing lanes to be built soon north of town. Staff indicated that all sides of the issue were discussed but many favoured the speed-up possible once the highway is improved. Pent up frustration being released rather than time saved is one of the main reasons given for the passing lanes.

The plan calls for passing lanes north and south between Deer Park and Klein’s corner. A spokesman for the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) says only funding for the design and land acquisition has been approved so there are no plans for getting the work done in the immediate future.

Await a funding decision once the land has been acquired.

Most of the land needed is owned by the Kennedy Family (McIntrye Ranch Ltd.)