An alternate route on the west side of Okanagan Lake, using the Trout Creek Forest Service Road between Peachland and Summerland, is now available to people travelling around the Highway 97 closure near Callan Road.

This route will accommodate light vehicles (five tons or less). Using this option to travel between the local communities between Summerland and Peachland will be approximately 45 minutes faster than using the 201 Forest Service Road.

The full route includes the Princeton Summerland Road west of Summerland, the Trout Creek Forest Service Road and the Peachland Forest Service Road to Princeton Avenue in Peachland.

This route has been graded and sanded, and signage is in place. The speed limit is 50 km/h. Drivers using this route should have good winter tires, obey the speed limit and drive with caution.

The route is available to passenger vehicles only. Commercial vehicles will still detour using highways 97C, 5A, 3 and 3A.

For people travelling between Penticton and Kelowna, the 201 Forest Service Road is still the fastest alternate route.

Argo Road Maintenance Inc. is maintaining both Forest Service Roads and has also dedicated extra equipment for plowing and sanding the roads as necessary.

Work continues on construction at Callan Road, which will eventually provide a two-lane detour around the Highway 97 slide site. The work involves building a two-lane connection from Callan Road to Highway 97 on the south side of the slide. 

The detour will be built to also accommodate commercial vehicles. Work will continue using two 10-hour shifts per day. Fourteen pieces of heavy equipment are currently on site. The Callan Road detour is expected to open early next week, assuming there are no unexpected challenges that arise.