A second bridge over Okanagan Lake and a freeway alternative along Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 north end are unlikely according to city planners and unnecessary according to some city councillors.

City staff described the project as 害羞草研究所減rohibitively expensive,害羞草研究所� after an over-$300 million jump in price since initial plans in 2007. The project would now likely cost 害羞草研究所渨ell in excess害羞草研究所� of $1 billion.

害羞草研究所淚n terms of cost-benefit analysis; it害羞草研究所檚 proven to be difficult,害羞草研究所� said Rafael Villarreal, the city害羞草研究所檚 integrated transportation department manager, while presenting a report to council on Monday.

害羞草研究所淭o make sense, it has to be a full freeway or it害羞草研究所檚 not of enough benefit. It害羞草研究所檚 difficult to say the concept is dead, but the reality is, we don害羞草研究所檛 know when it害羞草研究所檚 going to happen. I害羞草研究所檓 not even sure if it害羞草研究所檚 within 20 or 25 years.害羞草研究所�

READ MORE: Minster says Highway 97 study is on hold

READ MORE: Second bridge across Okanagan Lake 害羞草研究所榰nlikely害羞草研究所� because of $1 billion price tag

The historic vision of the Highway 33 extension plan was coined as a Highway 97 alternative, connecting UBCO on the east end of the city to a second bridge over the lake to West Kelowna by a highspeed freeway, but that plan now looks doubtful due to inflated costs.

Instead, an incremental approach is being sought by city staff.

The revised plans indicate it may be more realistic to build an arterial roadway connecting Clement Avenue to McCurdy Road instead of the high-speed freeway with interchanges that was initially envisioned in the first plan. Clement Avenue currently ends at Spall Road.

The proposed road would run parallel to the Rail Trail, which was recently completed by the city. If the plan moves forward the city would have to relocate its bus facility.

The scope of work includes a four-lane connection between Spall Road and Highway 33, with at-grade intersections at Spall, Dilworth, and Enterprise. The most recent cost estimate for theis work is $57 million.

Councillors largely dismissed the second crossing but commended the staff害羞草研究所檚 work on seeking a less drastic approach.

害羞草研究所淎n incremental approach from Spall to Dilworth 害羞草研究所� Highway 33 if we害羞草研究所檙e lucky 害羞草研究所� would be a useful road that will help overall,害羞草研究所� said Coun. Luke Stack.

害羞草研究所淚 like the incremental approach to moving this forward and I think we害羞草研究所檙e on the right path.害羞草研究所�

Despite the fact that she hasn害羞草研究所檛 dismissed a second bridge for the future, Coun. Gail Given said she sees 害羞草研究所済reat wisdom害羞草研究所� in staff investigating the extension as an arterial roadway rather than a freeway.

害羞草研究所淲hile we haven害羞草研究所檛 totally written off the second crossing, the evidence points in a different direction,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所�(This plan) is going to provide the best benefit to our community in the shorter term.害羞草研究所�

She did, however, ask staff to consider the potential future development in their land acquisitions.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 nothing worse than having a highway corridor that害羞草研究所檚 constrained with a building immediately on either side and you have no options into the future. As we do our land acquisition, we should plan for a much broader corridor. One that would support transit into the future or that would support a freeway into the future.害羞草研究所�

A 害羞草研究所渂ridge to nowhere害羞草研究所� is how Coun. Charlie Hodge described the second crossing.

害羞草研究所淏uilding a second crossing in my mind makes no sense,害羞草研究所� said Coun. Charlie Hodge.

Hodge expressed concerns about the environmental impact of the project, citing that the newly proposed plans cross two wetlands.

害羞草研究所淭his road goes right through wetlands. What does the Ministry of Environment have to say about that?害羞草研究所� he asked.

Villarreal said the area between Spall and Highway 33 is a very complicated site from an environmental perspective.

害羞草研究所淲hen the first designs were done in 2008, the regulation wasn害羞草研究所檛 as complicated as it is today,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淲e are going to make sure that there is enough mitigation. The ministry is going to have to tell us what we need.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 part of why this road is expensive. If we害羞草研究所檙e going to build it, we have to make sure we comply with all the environmental regulations.害羞草研究所�

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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