Kelowna Construction

[mountainman]

A shot of the two cranes now at Brooklyn. Ella crane was removed this week.


Quite a large development on KLO, not sure what it is - possibly student accomodation?

[rdave]

I'm surprised they're using such small cranes on the Brooklyn site. Unless of course, the will replace them once the ground work & foundation is complete.

[mountainman]

A few updates of One Water Street and Ellis Parc

[Twindragon]

Nice pics, looks like they are starting to add windows or walls to the lower floors on one water. I walked by Ellis parc the other day and they started to add windows to the bottom floor.

[giallo]

Thanks, mountainman. The bulk of the two buildings is really starting to add to the streetscape.

[KelownaResident]

Anyone heard anything about the Westcorp downtown hotel? Last I heard I thought they were opening their showroom come September?

[mountainman]

Originally Posted by KelownaResident

Anyone heard anything about the Westcorp downtown hotel? Last I heard I thought they were opening their showroom come September?

Still lots of work going on in the presentation center, walked by it at the weekend.

[Metro-One]

Still got my fingers crossed for that project.

I posted this in the BC Highway section but strangely enough didn’t garner a single reply / comment.

Since this is also directly related to Kelowna (especially regarding the future second crossing and any continuous highway that may be built along with it) I will try my luck in this thread:

Thanks for the pics! Would love to do that highway myself one day.

Anyways, we all love to complain on here, but now it is time to send our opinions to those that matter.

Big questions for the final two option for the Peachland highway 97 improvements.

First option is the lower alternate route. (but this has had some backlash from the people in Peachland and they want the higher route)

My big question for this route is the huge detour made to connect to the Okanagan Connector.

Is there a further plan to push this route further towards Kelowna and potentially be a new free flow highway route with the proposed second crossing? Or is it just a horrible alignment that will forever dead end at the Connector?

PeachlandNewOption by Ian, on Flickr

Then there is the option of upgrading the existing alignment. To my dismay they have selected the option that uses at grade signalized intersections instead of interchanges.

from southwest to northeast:

PeachlandExistingOption by Ian, on Flickr

PeachlandExistingOption by Ian, on Flickr

PeachlandExistingOption by Ian, on Flickr

PeachlandExistingOption by Ian, on Flickr

PeachlandExistingOption by Ian, on Flickr

So, if chosen, this highway expansion option will include the retention of four traffic signals...

I know I will be sending in my comments insisting upon full grade separation.

[giallo]

This definitely needs to be grade-separated, but it all comes down to funds, unfortunately. As that route becomes busier and busier, having four lights will choke traffic badly. I hope the necessary funds will be available if we go with the grade-separated route.

[rdave]

There has been little to no long-term investment when it comes to infrastructure in the okanagan and it is disappointing time and time again. As much as a grade-separated route is far more sensible and appropriate, the cheaper & more immediate alternative such as the above illustrations will likely be implemented.

[Metro-One]

Of course there is always the question of funds, but in the long term it is cheaper to build it right the first time than a second wave of projects a decade or two later (or forever leaving it at sub-par form).

BC did this with the 91, finally full free flow as of this year. We have repeated that with the SFPR (only 5 years after opening two projects will already be happening to remove two signalized intersections), would be nice to see them learn from past mistakes.

Also any clue on the northern end of the bypass option? Any plan to continue further towards Westbank and maybe becoming the second crossing route? If not seems like a bizarre place to link it with the Connector.

[DKaz]

The last report on the second bridge had the province talking themselves out of building a bridge until at least 2040. Metro Kelowna is expected to have a population between 325,000 and 350,000 by 2040.

[Metro-One]

That is insane. 5 lanes for an urban area over 300,000. Even Kamloops at just over 100,000 has more lanes crossing over the Thompson.

Seems like a good carrot for the next provincial election.

[rdave]

A 6-storey office / commercial building planned for the Clement Avenue corridor.

https://infotel.ca/newsitem/old-kelowna-character-homes-getting-the-wrecking-ball-treatment/it65670

[mountainman]

Great location for that development. Tolko has also announced they are closing the Kelowna mill indefinitely. Will he interesting to see what happens there in the mid to long term.

[Metro-One]

How many jobs lost will that be? That is some pretty bad news on what has generally been some good news for Kelowna economically recently.

[Twindragon]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

How many jobs lost will that be? That is some pretty bad news on what has generally been some good news for Kelowna economically recently.

I believe 150 I read.

[csbvan]

This closure was inevitable. This site will be redeveloped.

[giallo]

Wow. An end of an era.

But yeah, as csbvan said, it was an inevitability. The city is spending a lot of time and money making that part of Kelowna desirable. Having a mill operating outside of your window isn't going to help sell the area.

[Metro-One]

Well we all knew it was going to happen, but does hurt a little without a replacement facility.

Also, hope the city has the foresight that the mill location is perhaps a prime spot for the northern landing of the second crossing / potential highway.