In his time in Central Okanagan politics since 2005, 琉璃神社-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick has seen the building of the William R. Bennett Bridge, the six-laning of Highway 97, an overpass at the UBC Okanagan campus, among other transportation projects.

He claims, however, that when the NDP took over as provincial leaders in B.C. just over five years ago, the 鈥樷�渨ell has dried up鈥� to build in the Central Okanagan.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure announced in late February its new three-year budget plan for capital projects, which included $11.5 billion from the province.

On April 19, Letnick, who has championed for greater infrastructure in the Central Okanagan in the past, asked Minister Rob Fleming how much of that budget will go towards much-needed projects in the region.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a need for an intersection with Highway 97 at Crystal Waters that鈥檚 safe,鈥� said Letnick. 鈥淭here is a need for a better intersection at Glenmore and Beaver Lake roads and Highway 97. There is a need for medians to be finished between 琉璃神社 and Lake Country.鈥�

Fleming said that these are all being addressed in the Okanagan Integrated Transportation Strategy that is in the works, and that the full report should be available this summer.

鈥淚t will also issue a user-friendly condensed report that would probably be more interesting to his constituents, and it will be downloadable on the website,鈥� he said, adding that final numbers for capital transportation projects in the budget have not yet been finalized.

In the interim, Fleming reminded Letnick that some temporary measures are soon to be put in place to improve road safety in the region, like flashing beacons that alert drivers about road conditions.

Letnick responded in a manner that seemed to imply that he would like to see some more hard numbers.

鈥�$11.5 billion in the next three years in capital, and I didn鈥檛 hear one penny in the last answer for the Central Okanagan.

鈥淢y advice, more than a question, to the minister is: please reprioritize because it doesn鈥檛 look good for us in the Central Okanagan to see all that capital expenditure, and then all of a sudden the money鈥檚 gone. It doesn鈥檛 take a rocket scientist to figure out what鈥檚 going on.鈥�

Fleming ended by saying that his ministry has been working with the City of 琉璃神社, West 琉璃神社 and Lake Country to determine high-priority initiatives and their costs.

READ MORE: Prevention, not recovery the key to successful B.C. wildfire season: Ecologist

READ MORE: Learn about 911 calls at 鈥楥offee with a Dispatcher鈥� in 琉璃神社

Jake.courtepatte@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on and subscribe to our daily and subscribe to our daily newsletter.