ADRA TUNNEL OF LOVE
The main goal of the tunnel reconstruction is to connect the communities of Kelowna and Penticton for the joy of hikers and cyclists
The Adra Tunnel, located on the KVR Trail, has been a labour of love for a whole lot of people. Soon it will become a reality. Located between the former Kettle Valley Railway’s second and third track, it’s 16 km from Chute Lake and roughly 12 km to the Little Tunnel in Naramata, 8 km from Glenfir and a 40-minute car ride from Penticton.
Built in 1912, tradespeople now look at it as a marvel – a tunnel with a 180-degree turn and 2% grade. In those days there wasn’t the bureaucratic red tape that exists today and labour was a lot cheaper. It was built in less than a year.
The tunnel was later upgraded in 1947 by the Kenyon company, based in Penticton. (A plaque inside the tunnel prominently reads “1947.”)
The railway shut down for good in the early 1980s and today remains a favourite spot of hikers and cyclists. In 2012, the Naramata Woodwhackers – a group of volunteers that helped maintain the KVR trail – set out to restore the 500 metre tunnel, but were derailed when a fire was deliberately set that burned for weeks. The fire created a significant rockfall and the Woodwhackers abandoned what they thought was an impossible dream.
Jumping ahead to 2022, a new group of history buffs and construction enthusiasts decided to reopen the tunnel. The $1-million project has been entirely funded by donations of cash and in-kind services. No grant money has been accepted from any level of government.
Among those who stepped to the plate were: Greyback Construction, Peters Brothers, Pac Rim, BBDF, Superior Septic, Penticton Towing, Nor Val Rentals and Berry & Smith Trucking. In total, $318,400 of in-kind services have been provided.
“Our main goal is to connect our communities with Penticton and Kelowna,” said project manager Terry Field who oversees a four-man crew.
The hundreds of tasks have included scaling loose rocks, scaling bars by hand, sanding the rock, chipping off loose rock and installing bolts through the tunnel. There are meshed areas to block any possible rocks from sliding. Six of eight concrete arches have been installed along with more than 30 rock anchors and the removal of 2,500 M3 of rock. (This is only a partial list.)
Still in the works is the ground surface which will have echo-crush with a crown. Any drainage will run off to ditches built on both sides. The smooth surface will be very similar to Little Tunnel in Naramata.
The Adra Tunnel will be lit with LED lighting, powered by solar, every 40 feet. It will be safe for cyclists and hikers and will be handicap accessible. There will also be security cameras on each end of the tunnel to deter vandalism.
“The nature of the project itself has been very challenging due to the unknown,” Field said. “Every 10 metres was a new story. We put a lot of time and effort into a design by an engineer that’s accurate, but once you get up there and start drilling the rock, things change.”
It has been a rewarding and a unique experience for the crew that’s now working six 12-hour shifts per week. Their enthusiasm is contagious.
“We encountered something new every day, but we’d connect with the engineers and revise the drawings. There was constant pivoting,” Field said.
Between now and the spring, the crew will be wrapping up the bolting portion of the tunnel, installing lights, grading and digging ditches and resurfacing the floor of the tunnel.
It’s hoped that signage will be included along with traffic calming and other outdoor amenities.
Organizers praised the efforts of staff member Doug Reeve from the RDOS along with former CAO Bill Newell and retired Naramata director Karla Kozakevich. The RDOS has served as buffer with the provincial ministries.
For the grand opening, the surviving members of the Woodwhackers will be invited to participate in the festivities.
To date, $700,000 has been raised. Fundraisers believe an additional $300,000 is required to finish the ambitious project.
Anyone wishing to donate may do so through the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen at 100 Main Street or the Community Foundation South Okanagan at 390 Main Street. Donations made to either organization allow for a tax receipt.
On the net: adratunnel.com