Highway 97 between Penticton and Kelowna reopens with limited hours

Highway 97, a vital route connecting Penticton and Kelowna in British Columbia, has reopened to through traffic after being closed due to nearby wildfires. The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) announced the reopening, specifying that the highway will operate with limited hours daily, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Drivers will encounter reduced speed limits of 70 km/h. While the road is open for passage, crews will continue their overnight work to manage the wildfire situation. Access to side roads leading into areas under evacuation orders remains restricted. Those requiring access must possess a valid RDOS Temporary Access Pass (TAP), which will provide specific instructions for entry points.

The RDOS cautioned that the situation remains dynamic and could change with minimal notice. They emphasized the importance of adhering to all restrictions, warning that non-compliance could lead to the highway being closed to public traffic once again. The wildfire situation, which prompted the closure, involved an aerial firefighting crew dropping water from a helicopter on the Bald Range wildfire near Summerland.