Kelowna Construction - Page 179

Metro-One · #**3561** Posted **Dec 21, 2021, 6:10 AM**

Great shots of Kelowna!

And exciting news for four new towers!

Lots of good comments about my road proposal, but I want to clarify a few reasons why I feel this will be the best option.

First, for those who think no new second crossing is needed at all, well, the region is going to continue growing and to rely on a single crossing is foolish and even dangerous. The highway closures this past month have shown the value in redundancy.

Second, as DKaz pointed out only 10% of traffic is true through traffic, therefore having the new high capacity route completely miss the core urban areas of Kelowna makes little sense and would likely fail any business case.

Third, also pointed out by Dkaz the route I selected is already close to being a limited access roadway, and where no roadway exists now it is largely a brown field ex rail corridor. Therefore little to no urban areas would need to be demolished or disturbed. Much of this corridor is also naturally already a barrier and wouldn’t split the city (near the lakeshore creative things could be done to lessen the impact of the approach, akin to Granville Bridge in downtown Vancouver).

Fourth, in relation to the concern for urban space above, this plan isn’t just about adding a freeway, but also about downsizing the existing stretch of 97 near downtown to less of an urban barrier and providing space for mass transit.

Fifth, the cost. This plan would require minimal land appropriation, minimal tunneling (only under downtown Westbank, but that is somewhat of a separate project), and is the maximum scale of project I could ever see our provincial governments even entertain the idea of considering. Anything larger than this (such as building an all new freeway along the west side of the lake and crossing a bridge near Lake Country) would never ever see the light of day due to its cost. Also such a route would impact provincial parks and an even larger portion of native reserves, making it a super no go.

So, that’s why I chose the route I did. Trying to balance local needs (second crossing for downtown, traffic calmed existing 97), through traffic (free flow), minimal land and urban impacts (existing transport corridors), ease of accessibility, strong cost benefit ratios, avoids provincial parks, and allows for transit expansion.

I try to base my fantasy proposals within the realistic political and social realms of the Okanagan and BC.

kev_427 · #**3562** Posted **Dec 22, 2021, 6:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Okay, so this time I am posting my idea with pics to help.

The City of Kelowna and the Provincial Government should be planning for a substantial long term solution for the transportation / road networks in Kelowna.

In a logical world this would be targeted for completion by 2030. Kelowna and the Okanagan are growing at a relatively fast rate and the need for a true limited access route through Kelowna has come decades ago, I can't imagine what it will be like in 10 or 20 years.

Key:

Black Circle = Full movement interchange
Black Triangle = Partial movement interchange

Red = Second Crossing route one (6 lanes, 2 being add drop lanes)
Yellow = Second Crossing route two (6 lanes, 2 being add drop lanes)

Green = New free flow route (4 lanes)
Orange = Upgraded Existing 97 to free flow (6 lanes + median rapid transit lanes, bus or LRT)
Purple = Downgraded existing 97. Four lanes. Could involve expanded sidewalks, bus lanes (LRT lanes), expanded bike lanes, proper boulevard.
Blue = Existing 97, 2 lanes converted to rapid bus or LRT lanes.

Of course this needs work, but this is the type of plan that needs to be seriously considered, if not Kelowna will continue to be a transportation nightmare and a choke point for the Okanagan for many decades to come.

Kelowna Highway by Ian, on Flickr

Kelowna Highway by Ian, on Flickr

From the southern end of the project I envision the 97 being expanded to six lanes plus two rapid transit lanes until it hits the urban core of westbank, where a 4 lane tunnel would dive under the town until east of the Dairy Queen and Cherry Pit.

Your drawing connects nicely to my proposal in my signature at the bottom. I agree that building a bridge too far north would have little effect on Harvey Ave traffic. The vast majority of highway travellers are going to Kelowna, not through it.

I read recently that the city doesn't plan on building the Hwy 33 extension to Clement until 2030, which I find baffling. I'm a big alternative transportation guy, but there is no reason not to build it now. They have the right-of-way, they're not working on any other major transportation projects, just do it. It literally only needs to be a 4 lane road with room to expand if needed. It's insane to me that the only three roads connecting Kelowna and Rutland passing through the main commercial area are Harvey, Springfield, and Enterprise. No wonder we have Vancouver level traffic. At the rate Kelowna is growing, you can't just hope and pray that everyone will ride a bike or bus. Just build a damn road.

jimmyboy95 · #**3563** Posted **Dec 22, 2021, 6:59 AM**

Kelowna needs a 'freeway', not just a bypass. I think the route via West Harbour - Manhattan Point - Weddell Place - and then following existing Clement Ave expressway section, extended out past Highway 33, makes the most sense. Diverge off the existing 97 just past Westside Road and rejoin it just past Scandia. Most of the Harvey Avenue traffic is local, so I feel it doesnt make sense to put it too far out as a total bypass around the city. This central route would better serve local residents. People from West Kelowna heading to the airport, people from Rutland, Lake Country and Vernon heading to 97C to go to Vancouver, that sort of thing. Its closer for Vernon residents to go to Vancouver via Kelowna, but actually faster to go via Kamloops, cause of all the stop and go through Kelowna. The city of Kelowna needs to do its part by extending Clement to Highway 33, and possibly to McCurdy. Upgrading Clement to freeway, building a 2nd crossing, building freeway extension thru the North End to approach the bridge, and upgrading the sections of existing 97 out past the airport and thru West Kelowna, would be the provinces responsibility. Get this thing done once, done right and we will be all set.

The biggest hurdle is that second crossing, that is going to be a massive, massive undertaking. Over $1 Billion just for that alone probably. And as painful as this might sound, we need to use all the sawmill land thats needed for this to happen. Condos and high rises on the site would mostly be for rich people only, but this freeway project benefits all residents in Kelowna and beyond. Any remaining land could always be developed.

Homerbush · #**3564** Posted **Dec 22, 2021, 7:38 AM**

I also saw that it was delayed until 2030 at the earliest and it has now been further downgraded to a 2-lane (one in each direction) road as opposed to four-lane that had already been downgraded from limited-access four-lane. I agree it’s silly to delay this. I feel like I have heard the city cite wanting to go green as a reason for not investing as much in roads but I think electric cars are going to play a big role in that and electric cars still require roads and still cause gridlock. As someone who lives in the choke-point area near the new Costco, I can attest to how much we need another option to get downtown.

KelownaResident · #**3565** Posted **Dec 22, 2021, 8:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyboy95

Kelowna needs a 'freeway', not just a bypass. I think the route via West Harbour - Manhattan Point - Weddell Place - and then following existing Clement Ave expressway section, extended out past Highway 33, makes the most sense. Diverge off the existing 97 just past Westside Road and rejoin it just past Scandia. Most of the Harvey Avenue traffic is local, so I feel it doesnt make sense to put it too far out as a total bypass around the city. This central route would better serve local residents. People from West Kelowna heading to the airport, people from Rutland, Lake Country and Vernon heading to 97C to go to Vancouver, that sort of thing. Its closer for Vernon residents to go to Vancouver via Kelowna, but actually faster to go via Kamloops, cause of all the stop and go through Kelowna. The city of Kelowna needs to do its part by extending Clement to Highway 33, and possibly to McCurdy. Upgrading Clement to freeway, building a 2nd crossing, building freeway extension thru the North End to approach the bridge, and upgrading the sections of existing 97 out past the airport and thru West Kelowna, would be the provinces responsibility. Get this thing done once, done right and we will be all set.

The biggest hurdle is that second crossing, that is going to be a massive, massive undertaking. Over $1 Billion just for that alone probably. And as painful as this might sound, we need to use all the sawmill land thats needed for this to happen. Condos and high rises on the site would mostly be for rich people only, but this freeway project benefits all residents in Kelowna and beyond. Any remaining land could always be developed.

A billion dollars divided equally between 150,000 residents is about $6666 per person. Likely over 10 grand per household. I personally would be okay with that but I'm not sure the taxpayers would like it.

DKaz · #**3566** Posted **Dec 22, 2021, 9:06 PM**

Straight from City of Kelowna.

https://www.kelowna.ca/sites/files/1/docs/roads-transportation/comc_bypass-ultimate.pdf

But City of Kelowna would only build a starter 2 lane road from Hwy 33 to Spall much like Translink partially built South Fraser Perimeter Road in Metro Vancouver, hoping that eventually the province would take over the entire project.

JayMi · #**3567** Posted **Dec 23, 2021, 11:44 PM**

Here is the one a lot of you have been waiting for. See below the link for UBCO submitted to the City. This application is just for the UBCO tower. A subdivision application was also submitted as Mission Group will be submitting their two towers on a separate parcel. I’ll hopefully be able to share that tomorrow. The UBCO application also includes a rezoning from the downtown C7 zone to a comprehensive development zone because they needed a higher density (10.1 FAR).

http://apps.kelowna.ca/CityPage/DevApps/...posed%20Lot%201-%20Circulation%20Set.pdf

csbvan · #**3568** Posted **Dec 23, 2021, 11:54 PM**

I'll wait for better renders. As of now, I think it looks like a pretty dramatic step back from the original design.

Metro-One · #**3569** Posted **Dec 24, 2021, 2:26 PM**

Can someone post a pic of the proposal?

Have tried to open the link on two different smartphones and my laptop via wifi and data and non of them can load the page.

JayMi · #**3570** Posted **Dec 24, 2021, 5:04 PM**

uzi · #**3571** Posted **Dec 24, 2021, 8:09 PM**

2 of your pics crashed.

JayMi · #**3572** Posted **Dec 24, 2021, 8:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by uzi

2 of your pics crashed.

Sorry. First time trying to do photos today and am having some difficulty. They are working online but not on smartphones for some reason.

hollywoodnorth · #**3573** Posted **Dec 25, 2021, 12:50 AM**

Six-storey development proposed for Todd's campground site in Peachland

https://www.castanet.net/news/West-Kelow...X3P6m_kITiCy35hzhmbTt9rlccpY_sYvQ#355398

Metro-One · #**3574** Posted **Dec 25, 2021, 2:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayMi

Thanks!

How many floors will it be?

JayMi · #**3575** Posted **Dec 25, 2021, 3:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Thanks!

How many floors will it be?

I wish the other two photos loaded properly. Showed a little more of the massing for the whole tower. Someone else will have to help share. The tower is 35 Floors - 125m.

Metro-One · #**3576** Posted **Dec 25, 2021, 11:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayMi

I wish the other two photos loaded properly. Showed a little more of the massing for the whole tower. Someone else will have to help share. The tower is 35 Floors - 125m.

Wow, another 100m+ tower.

That would be what, the 7th or so now for the city?

Homerbush · #**3577** Posted **Dec 25, 2021, 4:01 PM**

Best I could do is screenshot from the document:

Merry Christmas all!

JayMi · #**3578** Posted **Dec 25, 2021, 7:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homerbush

Best I could do is screenshot from the document:

Merry Christmas all!

Thanks for sharing the other two photos. Merry Christmas.

Homerbush · #**3579** Posted **Dec 29, 2021, 4:22 AM**

By my count, there are currently 17! Towers either started/approved/or proposed for downtown right now. Am I missing any?:
Under construction:
Brooklyn
Bertram
The Block
One Water - west tower

Approved:
Water Street by the park x3
BC Housing on Bertram

Proposed:
Waterscapes 2 x4
Corner of Doyle and St. Paul
Westcorp Hotel (ever going to happen?)
UBCO Downtown campus x3 (not sure if these are approved yet or not)

JayMi · #**3580** Posted **Dec 29, 2021, 6:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homerbush

By my count, there are currently 17! Towers either started/approved/or proposed for downtown right now. Am I missing any?:
Under construction:
Brooklyn
Bertram
The Block
One Water - west tower

Approved:
Water Street by the park x3
BC Housing on Bertram

Proposed:
Waterscapes 2 x4
Corner of Doyle and St. Paul
Westcorp Hotel (ever going to happen?)
UBCO Downtown campus x3 (not sure if these are approved yet or not)

Only two I believe are missing is the former RCMP site and 1325 Bertram. Exciting times ahead.