BX-Swan lake fire rescue hinges on road work

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 01, 2012 1:00 AM

BX-Swan Lake firefighters are concerned road work may cut them off from residents in need. Silver Star Road, the main access for volunteers to reach the fire hall and for fire trucks to respond to emergencies, is ripped up for drainage upgrades. “Our timely response manner is at the will of the road,” said chief Bill Wacey. Until the end of July, there will be alternating, single-lane traffic from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. “Our guys responding to the hall for a call-out could be held up because of the traffic and the truck could be held up because of the traffic,” said Wacey. Wacey insists the department was not contacted by the City of Vernon prior to culvert and ditch project starting Monday. “There hasn’t been a single word. There’s been absolutely no communication,” he said. City officials say they will try and work with the fire department. “We will get in touch with our contractor and we will get them to contact the department,” said Mark Dowhaniuk, the city’s infrastructure engineer. “They (firefighters) may have to chat with the flagperson directly so they can get through.” Besides Silver Star Road, the fire department believes it could also be delayed in responding to emergencies because Old Kamloops Road is under construction. Another concern is parts of East Vernon and Tillicum roads are closed because of flooding. Wacey says that until the Ministry of Transportation initiates repairs, firefighters will have to take a prolonged route to get to parts of the BX. “We will have to go down to Hunter’s Store (on Pleasant Valley Road) and then turn up BX Road,” he said. The ministry believes Tillicum and East Vernon roads have been undermined at a culvert and  they are unsafe for travel. “Further work cannot occur until the water level drops through the culvert, so the timeline for repairs right now is weather-dependent,” says a statement from the ministry. “We know the detours are an inconvenience but the roads will be repaired when it’s safe to do so.”
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 Silver Star Road Rehabilitation 

Budget Details at P.280-281 ($938,000) of 2012-2016 Financial Plan - 37.60MB







 

Contracts Awarded so far:
Silver Star Rd Drainage Rehabilitation Contract $139,022.80