Answers to some questions recently asked:

Road improvement work that began in early April on a section of Highway 97 between McAlpine Bridge and the Husky have now been completed with crews headed to new sites… but..

There are two contracts for this project, with the first seeing the resurfacing of the highway from Osoyoos to Tucelnuit Drive exit (omitting the recently completed Osoyoos passing lanes and the main business district in downtown Oliver).

Completion was to be end of June – this was a very quick process taking many by surprise.

“This piece of Highway 97 has not been paved in the last 25 years,” said MLA Linda Larson. “It will cause disruptions and drivers to be frustrated, but if it lasts another 25 years it will be worth it.”

The second contract, which includes the resurfacing of the arterial through Oliver, will take place later this summer. PW Superintendent for the Town of Oliver Shawn Goodsell says much work must be done before that point in time. Infrastructure changes and improvements include safety features in the business district downtown – measures to slow traffic and make crosswalks safer and more visible.

Benefits of resurfacing this section of road include a smoother and safer surface for commercial trucks, locals and tourists on this route which sees extremely high traffic volumes during the summer, according to the Ministry of Transportation.

A hot-in-place treatment method is being applied because the asphalt is beginning to age and hot-in-place recycling is an effective way to receive the benefits of traditional paving at a fraction of the price.