Construction on a dangerous highway corner is set to start this month.
The $7.5 million re-alignment project of Highway 6 in Coldstream, between Grey and Ricardo roads, has been awarded.
Windley Contracting, the company working on construction of the new stretch of Highway 97 through Oyama, has been awarded the contract for the Highway 6 project.
“That’s probably one of the reasons they were successful is their equipment is only half an hour away,” said Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster.
Work is expected to commence later this month.
“I would anticipate it would be very soon,” said Foster. “We wanted to start it this fall, and it’s fall now.”
Ken Aura, senior project manager with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, adds: “We’re certainly expecting them to start work before winter sets in.”
The project, which was announced in October 2010, will create a safer route for motorists who currently navigate a sharp bend at a dangerous intersection at Kalamalka Road.
There were 119 reported accidents on that stretch between 2000 and 2009.
Re-alignment of the corner will take place, cutting through Coldstream Ranch lands.
“It will be a safer highway for one thing,” said Coldstream Mayor Jim Garlick, adding that the area has only become busier over the years.
The project is expected to wrap up by the fall of 2013.
While construction is taking place motorists may encounter delays of up to 10 minutes and detours as required.
“We don’t anticipate any major detours but there will certainly be some traffic impacts,” said Aura.
