Kelowna City Council Approves Highway 97 Right‑of‑Way Protection Plan

Kelowna City Council voted to adopt a Highway 97 Right‑of‑Way Protection Plan that preserves a 50‑metre corridor for a possible future widening of the 14‑km highway segment between the William R. Bennett Bridge and UBC‑Okanagan. The plan would add two transit‑only lanes to the existing six‑lane highway, a project council staff estimate could be up to 20 years away.

Mayor Tom Dyas said the city wants to start early conversations with property owners and be transparent about any future land needs, while Integrated Transportation Manager Brittany Hallam emphasized avoiding new obstacles. Councillor Ron Cannan was the sole dissenting vote, warning that acquiring the needed property could cost billions and urging immediate traffic‑signal improvements instead. The provincial Ministry of Transportation and Transit confirmed they are working with the city and noted no current plans to expropriate property.

The plan aims to guide development and prevent later barriers to a potential expansion, though details on cost, timing and exact land acquisition remain unsettled.