Ground broken on new overpass

The City of Kelowna has broken ground on the Bertram multi-use overpass.

The city said the new facility will create a safer, accessible, convenient connection over Highway 97 at Bertram St. for people walking, biking, and rolling.

The $12 million project is scheduled to be completed in late 2024.

Groundbreaking ceremony for the Bertram multi-use overpass. (submitted photo/City of Kelowna)

To accommodate the overpass, a portion of the northbound lane on Bertram St., between Highway 97 and Leon Ave. will be closed. The laneway between Leon Ave. and Highway 97 will be closed east of Bertram St. Work is being timed to minimize disruption for adjacent businesses.

The new facility will link to the larger active transportation network, connecting the future Bertram Active Transportation Corridor (ATC) within downtown to the existing Sutherland, Abbott and Ethel ATCs in the south and east via the Central Green development.

“The Bertram multi-use overpass will connect neighborhoods, help the environment by cutting down on pollution, and offer more ways for people to get around Kelowna,” Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs, said.

In addition to improving the connectivity of Kelowna’s Active Transportation Network, the overpass will offer safer access to Highway 97 RapidBus stops.

The structure was designed to offer a safer active transportation route across Highway 97 in one of the most high traffic areas of the city, in order to meet the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike.

Mayor Tom Dyas called the facility an exciting project that will link commuters of all abilities to transit, UBCO’s new downtown campus, businesses, services, parks, employment opportunities, and other amenities on both sides of Highway 97.

“This project is an important step towards meeting Kelowna’s growing transportation needs by encouraging more sustainable trips to move around our city, optimizing travel times through the Highway 97 corridor, and providing more safe and accessible transit options to the community,” Dyas said.

The project is funded through a partnership between the City of Kelowna, the Government of Canada through the Canada Community Building Fund, administered by UBCM, and the Province of BC through the Growing Communities Fund.

You can learn more about the Bertram multi-use overpass at Kelowna.ca/cityprojects.