A second bridge over Okanagan Lake and a freeway alternative along Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 north end are unlikely according to city planners and unnecessary according to some city councillors.

City staff described the project as 香蕉视频直播減rohibitively expensive,香蕉视频直播� after an over-$300 million jump in price since initial plans in 2007. The project would now likely cost 香蕉视频直播渨ell in excess香蕉视频直播� of $1 billion.

香蕉视频直播淚n terms of cost-benefit analysis; it香蕉视频直播檚 proven to be difficult,香蕉视频直播� said Rafael Villarreal, the city香蕉视频直播檚 integrated transportation department manager, while presenting a report to council on Monday.

香蕉视频直播淭o make sense, it has to be a full freeway or it香蕉视频直播檚 not of enough benefit. It香蕉视频直播檚 difficult to say the concept is dead, but the reality is, we don香蕉视频直播檛 know when it香蕉视频直播檚 going to happen. I香蕉视频直播檓 not even sure if it香蕉视频直播檚 within 20 or 25 years.香蕉视频直播�

READ MORE: Minster says Highway 97 study is on hold

READ MORE: Second bridge across Okanagan Lake 香蕉视频直播榰nlikely香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檚 work on seeking a less drastic approach.

香蕉视频直播淎n incremental approach from Spall to Dilworth 香蕉视频直播� Highway 33 if we香蕉视频直播檙e lucky 香蕉视频直播� would be a useful road that will help overall,香蕉视频直播� said Coun. Luke Stack.

香蕉视频直播淚 like the incremental approach to moving this forward and I think we香蕉视频直播檙e on the right path.香蕉视频直播�

Despite the fact that she hasn香蕉视频直播檛 dismissed a second bridge for the future, Coun. Gail Given said she sees 香蕉视频直播済reat wisdom香蕉视频直播� in staff investigating the extension as an arterial roadway rather than a freeway.

香蕉视频直播淲hile we haven香蕉视频直播檛 totally written off the second crossing, the evidence points in a different direction,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播�(This plan) is going to provide the best benefit to our community in the shorter term.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 nothing worse than having a highway corridor that香蕉视频直播檚 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.香蕉视频直播�

A 香蕉视频直播渂ridge to nowhere香蕉视频直播� is how Coun. Charlie Hodge described the second crossing.

香蕉视频直播淏uilding a second crossing in my mind makes no sense,香蕉视频直播� said Coun. Charlie Hodge.

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

香蕉视频直播淭his road goes right through wetlands. What does the Ministry of Environment have to say about that?香蕉视频直播� he asked.

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

香蕉视频直播淲hen the first designs were done in 2008, the regulation wasn香蕉视频直播檛 as complicated as it is today,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淲e are going to make sure that there is enough mitigation. The ministry is going to have to tell us what we need.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 part of why this road is expensive. If we香蕉视频直播檙e going to build it, we have to make sure we comply with all the environmental regulations.香蕉视频直播�

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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