Safety and efficiency improvements are planned for Main Street and Highway 97A in Sicamous with a new roundabout scheduled for construction in 2016, announced Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone. This is part of safety and mobility commitments made in B.C. on the Move, the Province’s 10-year transportation plan.

The new roundabout and upgrades to this busy intersection will include:

• Construction of a new roundabout at the intersection of Highway 97A and Main Street.
• Improved lighting at the intersection.
• Improvements to the alignment of Paradise Avenue at Highway 97A.
• Upgrades for pedestrian and cycling traffic including sidewalks, crosswalks with refuge islands and bicycle lanes.

The intersection improvements will provide safer and easier access to businesses in Sicamous for travelers on the TransCanada Highway and Highway 97A. Final design details will incorporate feedback received during the May 5, 2015 open house, such as extending the eastbound acceleration lanes.

B.C. on the Move is government’s 10-year plan for the improvement of the province’s transportation network. The actions prioritized in B.C. on the Move will enhance safety, grow the economy, maintain and replace aging infrastructure, and support trade for B.C.’s expanding resource sectors through Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway. Over the next three years, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will invest up to $2.5 billion to improve B.C.’s transportation network.

Quotes:

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone -

”Highway safety improvements are a key priority of B.C. on the Move, our 10-year transportation plan. During the open house in May, we heard from the community that these changes are needed and welcome. This new roundabout will address local safety and mobility concerns on this important corridor.”

MLA for Sicamous Greg Kyllo -

“Residents have been asking for changes to this intersection for a long time and it’s great that design and planning is getting underway. The new roundabout will be a significant improvement for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists using this busy road.”

Mayor of Sicamous Terry Risz -

“I am excited about today’s announcement to address a traffic intersection nightmare we locally call ‘The Sicamous Octopus’. The design and construction of a new roundabout intersection at the Main Street and Highway 97A will provide a safer, efficient and less confusing union of local, pedestrian, highway, tourism and business traffic. Thank you to Minister Todd Stone and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for recognizing the need to address this long-time snarl."

Learn More:

Find out more about B.C. on the Move, the Province’s 10-year transportation plan, at: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/transportationplan/

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241