Government officials are looking into possible changes to a dangerous stretch of Highway 97. Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA, says he has been working with the Ministry of Transportation to review conditions at the highway and Bailey Road. “They are quite a ways into the process now. They have done traffic counts,” he said. “I want a proper engineering and technical study done. Once the study is done, it will provide all of the options.” Foster says he asked the ministry, in conjunction with ICBC and the RCMP, to study the intersection after a Kelowna resident died at the Predator Ridge turnoff June 7. Foster wouldn’t speculate on what measures may be taken to enhance safety. “You want to minimize the number of traffic lights but if the study indicates that’s what is necessary, it will have to be looked at,” he said.
Some City of Vernon officials have suggested that the intersection needs to be changed so only right-in and right-out traffic is allowed. However, that concept isn’t going over well with a resident of that area. Don Matheson says eliminating left-turns off the highway would force people wanting to go to Predator Ridge or Sparkling Hill to go all the way into Vernon and then backtrack on Commonage Road. “There’s a major development at Predator Ridge and can you imagine a visitor coming from the airport and they can’t turn off to get to it?” he said. Matheson fears people could start making U-turns on the highway to access Bailey Road if left-turns aren’t allowed. “We could be creating a monster,” he said of accidents, adding that a designated left-turn lane should be installed on Highway 97 at Bailey Road.
Vernon council has requested that Transportation Minister Shirley Bond observe conditions at Bailey Road first-hand in the hopes that she will approve upgrades. Foster isn’t aware of any immediate plans by Bond to visit Vernon. “If that’s what the city wants, I am sure the minister is willing to oblige,” he said.
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