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Changes needed for dangerous Penticton intersection

A petition with over 3,700 signatures will be delivered to the province for Hwy. 97 and 3A corridor
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The junction of Highway 97 and 3A in Kaleden has seen three crashes in two days, with many calling for change to the dangerous corridor. (Christine Funk/Facebook photo)

Three crashes in two days at the intersection of Highway 97 and 3A in Kaleden this week have many asking for action along the dangerous corridor.

Subrina Monteith, Kaleden-Twin Lakes area director for the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen, has been pushing for change for some time.

“Anyone who lives here knows how many crashes and near misses there have been,” said Monteith.

“It’s frustrating because that section of highway falls under the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) so we have no control of what goes on there.”

A change.org petition to take immediate action to improve traffic safety on Highway 97 in Kaleden has garnered 3,800 signatures so far.

Montieth along with Boundary-Similkameen MLA Roly Russell will present the petition to the MOTI staff soon, she said.

“We will ask for a meeting with them as well,” she added.

Three crashes took place in 24 hours this week.

On Monday, the intersection saw two crashes and one on Tuesday morning.

The Monday morning crash led to a car fire that took place at the intersection of Highways 97 and 3A in Kaleden.

The incident occurred shortly before 11:50 a.m.

One vehicle went off the road next to the eastbound turnoff of Highway 3.

READ MORE: 3 crashes at dangerous corridor

It is not currently known whether any of those involved were injured.

A Kaleden fire truck was on scene with hoses laid out on the road indicating they had worked on the car fire.

Then around 3:20 p.m., Monday, a vehicle trying to make a left at the upper turnoff struck an upcoming vehicle. Both vehicles ended up in the ditch.

The woman making a left took to Facebook to say she was OK. A stalled semi parked on the side of Highway 97 was blocking full view of traffic coming south, making it difficult for people to make a left onto the highway.

The three crashes have many calling for traffic lights at the intersection that has seen multiple crashes in the past few months.

The whole corridor needs safety upgrades, said Monteith.

“The city of Penticton, the police chief, BCEHS, RDOS directors and the community all support change to the corridor,” she said. The challenge is convincing the MOTI to make that intersection a priority.



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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