Repairs to Gellatly Walkway now underway; Gellatly Road repair to begin shortly

The City of West Kelowna says that Gellatly Walkway is now undergoing repairs. A popular site, the walkway has been closed since June 1 after being damaged by flooding.

According to the city, repairs had to be undertaken now to ensure that flooding and wave action do not undermine the adjacent roadway and utility infrastructure.

During repair work, the portion of Gellatly Road fronting the walkway will have single lane alternating traffic. Pedestrians may experience delays and rerouting during construction. The public is encouraged to avoid the area during construction for safety reasons. If in the area, pedestrians are asked to be mindful of heavy equipment operating in the construction zone.

Construction on the walkway is expected to be complete by the end of June.

The City is also anticipating beginning repairs next week on Gellatly Road, closed from the intersection with Witt Road to the intersection with Boucherie Road since May 5 after nearby Smith Creek flooded and undermined the slope below the road. The City is working with the province and the federal government to secure the necessary permits to begin construction.

Motorists are asked to be neighbourly and respect the 30 km/hr speed limit that is now in place on Carrall and Witt Roads or choose an alternate, collector route for access to and from Highway 97. Large truck traffic should avoid detouring through Carrall and Witt Roads.

Work on Gellatly Road is expected to be complete by the end of June.

The Powers Creek Bridge on Gellatly Road is now open to single lane alternating traffic.

The City anticipates beginning construction on the McDougall Creek Bridge on Shannon Lake Road in July, when work in the stream is allowed by the Ministry of Environment. The bridge, which was slated for reconstruction this year, has been impacted by spring flooding activity and is currently open to single-lane alternating traffic.

The City will provide information on construction timelines in the near future.