Highway 97 between Kelowna and Penticton to be closed regularly over holiday season

Drivers in the Okanagan are being warned thatthe main highway connecting Kelowna and Penticton will be closed for 90 minutes twice weekly through the holiday season and into 2024.

The closures along Highway 97, near Peachland,will happen from 11 a.mto 12:30p.m. PT, according to a news release by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, which says crews will be conducting slope stabilisation and repairs.

The ministry says the days of the work will vary, and is asking travellers to check the website DriveBC.ca for updates, promising 24 hoursnotice before closures take place.

There are no closures scheduled during peak travel times ofDec. 21-27, nor will there be blasting on Dec. 31 or Jan. 1, though other work may occur.

Highway 97 has been restricted, and at times closed, since Aug. 28 when approximately 3,000 cubic metres of rocks fell onto the road, closing all four lanes near Callan Road and Okanagan Lake Provincial Park.

The closure has caused many headaches for commuters, being the main route connecting people to Kelowna and nearby communities includingSummerland, Peachland and Penticton.

No one was injured by the slidebut people have had to take forest service roads or, in one case, paraglidingas a detour for essential travel, adding hours of extra travel time for the weeks the highway was closed.

WATCH | Highway closure spurs Okanagan man's creative commutes:

Okanagan man sails, hikes, and paraglides his way to work following rockslide road closures

12 months ago

Duration 2:14

"Craig is coming to work on Monday by horse, said Okanagan Crush Pad co-owner Christine Colleta of Haywire Winery manager Craig Pingle, who has been finding unique ways to commute after recent rockslides closed Highway 97.

In an interview with CBC News in August, Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes called the road "the backbone of our region."

"We need it for trade and tourism it's our lifeline," he said.

Detours are availablewhen needed along Highways 97C, 5A, 3, and 33.