The city of Kamloops says work to resurface the intersection of Columbia Street and 3rd Avenue will get underway on Tuesday next week.

Streets Manager Glen Farrow says the scope of the project is limited to milling the existing asphalt, paving, and the painting new pavement markings. He notes the project will make things better for pedestrians by improving uneven surfaces through the intersection.

“City staff and its contractor – BA Dawson Blacktop Ltd. – recognize that this is a very busy time of year and have been working closely with Royal Inland Hospital, Ellis Don, and St Ann’s Academy to help mitigate the impacts of this project, and everyone has been extremely accommodating,” he said.

The work will extend up 3rd Avenue to just north of St Ann’s Academy, including the eastbound slip lane. Work is expected to wrap up by September 18, with the most significant traffic impacts to happen on Tuesday after the Labour Day weekend.

Crews will be working from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., though work on Columbia Street will take place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m..

Farrow says while work is underway, there will be a dedicated lane for buses through the construction area with no impacts to bus stops. Emergency vehicles will also have a priority through the area.

Westbound traffic will be reduced to one lane, while the two eastbound lanes will merge into one on the north side of the meridian on Columbia Street.

“With the recently completed Victoria Street West corridor ready to accommodate free-flowing traffic, we strongly encourage motorists to consider an alternate route to and from the downtown area,” added Farrow, who is asking drivers to be careful while driving in the area and to obey all traffic control measures.