New washrooms closed; will re-open in July
Travellers along the Okanagan Connector highway may have limited options for bathroom breaks this spring and summer, with one rest stop permanently closed and another closed for repairs.
The washroom facility at the Loon Lake rest area has been closed since May 12 for repairs to the water system that supplies the flush toilets, the Ministry of Transportation said in an email Thursday.
The $4.2-million rest area, 40 kilometres southeast of Merritt, opened in February.
“The ministry understands the inconvenience of the closure to people,” the ministry said. “Gravel and sediment entered the water lines and are preventing the system from functioning properly.”
In the meantime, there are several porta-potties on site for visitors of the rest stop.
“The ministry and its maintenance contractor are working hard to return the facility to normal operations as soon as possible,” the ministry said. “We anticipate that the full washroom facility will reopen some time in July.”
Other features of the rest area are still open, including the picnic area and the electric vehicle charging stations.
In February, the ministry touted the Loon Lake rest stop as a modern Class A facility with running water and flush toilets.
“It is important for travellers to stay fresh and alert on long trips, and Loon Lake’s new rest area provides an option on the Okanagan Connector,” Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Claire Trevena said at the time.
The Loon Lake rest stop was built to replace the visitor centre just outside Merritt, which closed permanently in January.