Layout of the All-Wheels Pump Track Facility at the Kamloops Bike Ranch. (Photo via Jeff Putnam)

Construction on a new $1.2 million All-Wheels Pump Track Facility at the Kamloops Bike Ranch is underway.

Project Manager Ted Morton says the facility between the Valleyview and Juniper Ridge neighbourhoods of Kamloops will include three asphalt pump tracks – rated beginner, intermediate, and expert – allowing people of all abilities to use it.

“Think of lots of rolling terrain, jumps, berms, rollers, and its all really about building your skill in a progressive and low-risk environment,” Morton said.

The all-wheels portion comes from the fact that the facility can be used by many different types of wheels, whether that’s adaptive hand cycles, wheelchairs, skateboards, scooters, run bikes, BMX bikes, mountain bikes.”

Most of the funding for the project – $999,541 – came from the Provincial Government through its Destination Development Fund. Morton says the Kamloops Performance Cycling Centre and Tourism Kamloops chipped in with the rest of the money.

“Given that Kamloops is a world renowned destination for mountain biking, its definitely going to strengthen our position as a tourist attraction,” Morton said, noting that while pump tracks are often used to build skill, there are also competitive events that take place.

“For locals, its also a really great piece to get into cycling or outdoor recreation and the fact that its asphalt and all-wheels means the whole family can come and enjoy it.”

Construction will be broken up into two phases. The first phase – which is underway – will include site preparation work and pad construction in an area of the bike ranch known as the ‘Upper Jump Corral.’

Location of the All-Wheels Pump Track Facility at the Kamloops Bike Ranch. (Photo via Jeff Putnam)

The tracks will be built and paved once the snow melts in the spring with work expected to wrap up in early July.

“It’ll be way less maintenance,” Morton said. “It is lower risk because those features stay the same every time, and really helps the city and also helps the KPCC in their management because its lower cost and pretty much zero maintenance.”

The track is expected to open to the public in mid-July.