[Emtee]

Originally Posted by dataspank

I spent a week in Ktown this summer and what struck me the most is how much of a dumpster fire Harvey Ave is. I am not talking about the never ending retail landscape - although many have a problem with that. I am talking about the insane traffic volume that clogs up the city along this strip. Locals use it. Of course through-traffic on 97 use it. And don't even get me started on the retarded idea to make a bus lane on the cheap with the HOV lane on the OUTSIDE lanes.
This issue is only going to get worse as kelowna nears the 200k mark
My question for those knowledgeable about the area is how serious has the talk been about a Hwy97 bypass of the city (with a new bridge) linking up with the west side?

From a few days ago:

Talks begin on second bridge crossing over Okanagan Lake
Wendy McLeod
9/13/2013
Talks have started on the potential development of a second bridge across Okanagan Lake, connecting Kelowna and West Kelowna.

Premier Christy Clark making good on her campaign promise by directing Minister of Transportation Todd Stone to meet with our local mayor's and Chief of Westbank First Nations.

West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater has concerns of where the second crossing could go.

"It's very steep terrain, some of it is very population, a lot of it is private property. What happens when it lands? Does it go through existing neighbourhoods?"

Findlater adds the district will not be forking out only dollars for the new bridge or an alternate route.

"This would have to be a Ministry of Transportation initiative in terms of absorbing the costs of a bypass route that would go with a second crossing."

Meanwhile, Kelowna Mayor Walter Gray can't wait for the project to get started.

"We're vulnerable with a floating bridge. We need a second bridge and 12 to 15 years from now we're really going to need that second crossing."

Gray adds Chief Robert Louie with WFN will also be included in the talks right from the beginning, the opposite of what took place during the WR Bennett Bridge project.

"Right from the beginning it's very important that First Nations be involved in the process at the beginning and not at the end of the process which was the case with the WR Bennett Bridge."

Discussions for a second crossing from Kelowna to West Kelowna are in the very early stages and the project will take years to complete.

http://www.am1150.ca/News/Local/story.aspx?ID=2040814