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UPDATE: Alternate route opened for Hwy 97 closure

(UPDATE: Feb. 3 @ 5:35 p.m.) - An alternate route has been opened for drivers to bypass the Hwy 97 road closure between Peachland and Summerland.

Although the highway remains closed due to a significant rock fall just north of Summerland, light vehicles (five tons or less) are able to use the 201 Forest Service Road, which can be accessed off of Highway 33 near McCollough Road near Kelowna, and via Warren Avenue/Carmi Avenue in Penticton.

Travellers taking this route should expect up to 90 minutes of additional travel time in comparison to usual travel times between Summerland and Peachland on Highway 97.

Heavy vehicles and commercial trucks are still required to detour via Hwy 97C, Hwy 5A and Hwy 3A to Hwy 3, as shown below.

DriveBC is cautioning drivers against using other alternate unmaintained routes for travel as they may not be safe.

DriveBC has not released an expected time of reopening for the Hwy, but anticipates it will be closed for an extended period of time due to instability at the site.

(UPDATE: Feb. 3 @ 8 a.m.) - Hwy 97 between Peachland and Summerland is still closed this morning as crews continue to deal with a rockslide.

Drive BC said this morning that rock scalers are continuing to work on the slope, but no estimated time of reopening is available yet.

There is an official detour in place – via Hwy 97C, Hwy 5A and Hwy 3A to Hwy 3.

(UPDATE: Feb. 2 @ 9:30 p.m.) - Police have warned drivers not to risk taking back country roads to get around the Hwy 97 closure.

RCMP in Kelowna and West Kelowna said they were kept busy Saturday after receiving calls from people stuck on unplowed roads.

Hwy 97 has been closed between Peachland and Summerland until further notice after two instances of rockfall.

There is an official detour in place – via Hwy 97C, Hwy 5A and Hwy 3A to Hwy 3 – but many impatient drivers are taking alternative routes, police said.

“In one particular case, a woman called 911 after her full-size pickup truck became stuck in deep snow along Garnet Valley Road, which runs between Summerland and Peachland,” said Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey, from Kelowna RCMP.

“Emergency crews were able to eventually reach the woman, who was not prepared to spend the night in her vehicle.”

Cpl. O’Donaghey added: “Almost everyone headed that way told our officers that Google Maps reported the roads as well-groomed and the fastest, most direct route to their destination.”

Police are strongly recommending that all drivers take the detour route suggested by DriveBC.

(UPDATE: Feb. 2 @ 8 p.m.) - Hwy 97 will remain closed overnight and into Sunday morning after rocks fell onto the road.

Rock scalers, who were sent to the site on Saturday, will continue their observations overnight but work on clearing the debris will not recommence until the morning.

DriveBC has promised another update at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.

(Original story: Feb. 2 @ 2:25 p.m.) - Hwy 97 has been closed in both directions between Summerland and Peachland after more rockfall on Saturday.

It had already been reduced to fewer lanes after rockfall on Thursday night.

Workers were on site clearing away the rocks when more poured down from the roadside.

The closure is over a 1.6 kilometre stretch of the highway between Callan Rd and N Beach Rd.

Rock scalers are on site and preparing to blast away the rocks, DriveBC said.

A detour is in effect via Hwy 97C, Hwy 5A and Hwy 3A to Hwy 3.

The next update on the closure is expected at 8 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.



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