CP Rail has provided more details of its expansion plans for its mainline in downtown Kamloops.

The corporation is widening 2.6 kilometres of track from east of Vicars Roads to west of 10th Avenue, when CP’s rail line connects with CN Rail.

The expansion work started this week and will be done in April 2021, according to CN. Right now, crews are doing surveying with professional archaeologists and members of Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc. Crews this week are also in the midst of locating underground utilities, and it says trees and shrubs on its property near the rail line will be taken out.

“During the project, residents can expect to hear heavy machinery and trucks and notice an increase in dust from time to time,” the company says.

“Construction-type work will occur during daytime hours; however, nighttime work may be required. CP will at all times endeavour to minimize any inconvenience to the residents in the surrounding communities to the extent possible.”

The expansion is needed to accommodate increased shipments of coal from the mines owned by Teck Resources in the Elk Valley to Teck’s Neptune Terminal in North Vancouver. Teck and CN Rail signed a contract in December of 2019, which will commence next spring, and CN will use CP’s line from the Kootenays to Kamloops.

CP Rail also closed the Jack Gregson Trail to accommodate its expansion. The privately-owned Gregson Trail was never intended to be a trail  according to CP.

Once a popular connection between downtown and Valleyview, the trail is overgrown on its east end near Vicars Road. It is still well used near downtown, but a local trail expert says its closure is “not a huge loss” for the city.