Rail Trail has path to original surface
Now that construction of the missing link is promised, regular users of the Okanagan Rail Trail are worried about the finished surface between Kelowna airport and Lake Country.
The original rail trail construction in 2017-18 was based on three different methods used on a one-kilometre test section from McCarthy Road to Lodge Road in Lake Country. The final decision was a trail of fine material compacted seven times for a surface that was as solid and smooth as asphalt.
However, when the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) completed erosion mitigation in 2019-20 to stop erosion caused by Kalamalka Lake waves, the rail trail wasn’t restored to the original condition. Instead, larger pieces of gravel were spread and to date, the loose gravel has not compacted to the desired flat surface.
“The key is the right aggregate gradation. The one pit closed which had the best one. We now have enough quantity to get the right gradation made (for the new section). We didn’t for RDNO. Everyone wants it to be as good as the first few segments as it is great for the user and lower maintenance,” explained Dev Fraser with the Friends of Okanagan Rail Trail (FORT).
“I looked into the history of this section,” said Ian Wilson, RDNO general manager of strategic and community services.
“The reason why the gravel was not compacted to the same standard during the erosion mitigation work was apparently because of restrictions under the environmental permits that were required from the province to do the work. The contractor had to compact this area with a smaller compactor. I’ve asked staff to look into possible solutions here such as sweeping the large gravel off.”
“The plan (for the new section) is for a compacted crushed rock similar to what was tested years ago,” said Mac Logan, the city’s infrastructure general manager. “The city has sourced material that we believe will perform the same way.”
The transfer of the Canadian National Railway right-of-way to the Okanagan Indian Band for the missing link wasn’t the only holdup, just the longest with the Addition to Reserve application submitted by the Okanagan Indian Band in May 2018.
In September 2018, the B.C. Agricultural Land Commission turned down the city’s application to allow public trail through the Eldorado Ranch based on concerns by the Bennett family for the impact on its farming operation, adequate trail fencing, vandalism, equipment theft, trespassing, illegal camping on farmland and public safety since it’s an active farm with vehicles crossing the path several times each day.
Okanagan panel chair Gerry Zimmerman suggested a discussion of other potential routes but nearby busy Highway 97 appeared to be the only alternative.
The city then negotiated with the Bennetts and in June 2019, the B.C. Agricultural Land Commission reconsidered the city’s application based on more information, including a memorandum of understanding with the family.
The latest decisions come too late for William “Bill” Urquhart, 70, a cyclist who chose to take a detour around the closed section. He died while trying to cross Highway 97 in the early morning hours of May 24, 2022.