There’s a new direction for Kalamalka Lake Road upgrades, but it’s still getting a rough ride.
Vernon council voted Monday to shave three weeks off of construction between Browne Road and the Coldstream border by extending the hours of work.
“It’s terrible,” said Dave Straughan, with Uncle Dave’s Pizza.
Straughan and other business owners along the route insist any closure will drive customers away.
“It’s very ignorant of them not to think of the businesses and they’re not,” he said.
Recently, city council approved a plan that would have had Kalamalka Lake Road closed for six to eight weeks for upgrades. There would have been alternating traffic for the remainder of the total 20 to 24 week project.
However, Coun. Catherine Lord urged her colleagues Monday to reconsider that plan after speaking to merchants.
“We are doing a disservice to a lot of the businesses there with alternating traffic,” she said of long lines of vehicles waiting to get through.
“This whole summer will hurt to get the project done but we want to get it done faster.”
Under the new plan, the road will be closed entirely for nine to 13 weeks and construction will run 12 to 14 hours a day, six days a week.
Coun. Scott Anderson pushed for either 24-hour construction or 16 to 20-hour work days, and he accused the rest of council of being arrogant.
“We’re sitting here and telling people what’s best for their business. They know what’s best for their business,” he said.
He voted against the nine to 13-week closure which will add about $175,000 to $250,000 to the $3 million budget.
“Option A is a lot of money for nothing,” he said.
Mayor Akbal Mund insisted that Anderson’s 24/7 plan wasn’t practical.
“There are a hell of a lot of residents (living) there and we need to take them into account,” said Mund.
Coun. Juliette Cunningham also lashed out at Anderson.
“Stop trying to minimize what we’re doing. We’re not nasty people,” she said.
Straughan says the city should have considered another option for the project.
“Why don’t they put it off until next year so they’re ready to go Feb. 1? We’re too far into the season now,” he said of the potential impact on tourist traffic.
Daryl Carlyle, with Unique Garden Art and Gifts, also worries about his bottom line if the road is closed.
“We depend on it and they don’t care,” he said.