B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad says itB次元官网网址檚 time for a serious plan to build a second crossing over Okanagan Lake.

During an announcement Friday (Oct. 4) about his partyB次元官网网址檚 childcare plan he was asked how a Conservative government could plan, build and pay for a second bridge connecting Kelowna and West Kelowna by 2032 as promised. 

B次元官网网址淭he existing crossing is expected to max out capacity by 2040,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 suspect with the growth that weB次元官网网址檙e seeing here it could actually reach that even earlier.B次元官网网址�

A June 23, 2023, (MOTI) Rob Flemming stated that the Central Okanagan is expected to grow by 60,000 residents by 2040. on a second bridge and a freeway bypass indicated the project would cost well in excess of $1 billion at the time.

In March 2023, MOTI unveiled its , a 20-year vision for transportation needs in the Okanagan Valley. It did not include a second crossing but did recommend a sixth lane on the existing bridge dedicated to transit. 

The City of Kelowna plans to address traffic congestion including redundancy to Highway 97 with the Clement Avenue extension and a new transit yard to expand the regional transit fleet.

Rustad added a plan to build a second crossing needs to engage with First Nations, communities and residents.

B次元官网网址淭hat needs to be developed, and as soon as we get that developed then we will allocate funding to get it built.B次元官网网址� 

Kelowna-Centre NDP candidate Loyal Wooldridge said while improvements are needed along the Highway 97 corridor, the Conservatives are promising something without thorough analysis.

B次元官网网址淭heir promise is fiscally irresponsible, untrustworthy, electioneering,B次元官网网址� Wooldridge said in an emailed statement. B次元官网网址淭hey have no intention to collaborate with First Nations or municipalitiesB次元官网网址�

He said promising a new crossing by 2032 is nearly impossible.

B次元官网网址淏y impacting WFN lands, reallocation of land would be required with federal government approvals which can take 5-10 years. A rough estimate of a new bridge would cost roughly $3 billion-plus, not including additional land costs and new road connections.B次元官网网址� 

In an Instagram post, West Kelowna-Peachland Independent candidate Stephen Johnston said the ConservativesB次元官网网址� promise is questionable and overlooks long-standing challenges his riding has faced for decades.

B次元官网网址淯nless they intend to address these significant infrastructure deficits, this is nothing more than cheap talk.B次元官网网址�

As an example, Johnston posted that Westside Road, where a second crossing would be established, is B次元官网网址渙ne of the most dangerous roads in Canada, and certainly in B.C.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚mmediate upgrades are essential to improve safety and prevent accidents on this critical route.B次元官网网址�

Unless the Conservatives are promising to build everything at once Johnston added, pushing ahead with a second crossing while neglecting these urgent needs would be reckless.