Artists rendering of proposed Summit Drive overpass/via City of Kamloops
Suggesting they still want the project to go ahead, top officials at TRU are pushing back at suggestions from the City of Kamloops that the University is “playing games” when it comes to a Summit Drive overpass.
TRU Vice-President Matt Milovick says while the University is conducting its own study of a potential location for the overpass, they remain “agnostic” about the ultimate site.
The University has suggested it would like the overpass to be built about 200-meters south of the City’s chosen location.
However, Milovick also argues they want to be able to do their own due diligence.
“The site that has been proposed, we’ve never agreed to it,” Milovick told NL Newsday with Brett Mineer. “We understand there’s benefits to it for sure. There’s no question about it. But we have never agreed to it. It’s not like we’re changing out position. We’re asking for more information.”
Location of City of Kamloops chosen site (Red), with TRU’s preferred option 200 meters to the south (double arrow)/Via City of Kamloops
On Tuesday, Kamloops Council decided to fire off a letter to the TRU Board, asking for clarification on its intentions with a further study on the overpass initiated last Fall, suggesting the University is potentially causing delays which could push up the cost of the roughly $10 million dollar project.
“What is this study looking at? Is just looking at location?” Councillor Katie Neustaeter told the NL Noon Report before Milovick’s comments a few hours later. “Because if it’s just looking at location, we’re not interested. We’ve already clarified that the location is critical to us [City of Kamloops] in meeting Active Transportation goals for the city. For the whole population.”
While TRU has suggested it would like the overpass to be built south of the City’s chosen location, Kamloops City Council is now warning this is non-negotiable, suggesting any attempt by TRU to press otherwise could see the joint venture be mothballed.
The City of Kamloops argues that throughout summer 2023, the City and TRU met to discuss the bridge location in more detail, with the architect and engineering team evaluating and presenting more detailed analysis on two potential locations.
The City contends TRU requested an updated origin-destination study which was completed in September 2023 and confirmed the initial findings from 2012 and 2022.
“Thompson Rivers University notified the City that it hired a consultant to complete an independent review for the project location. The review is expected to be completed in April 2024,” noted the City in a Council briefing note following Tuesday’s council session.
Milovick says TRU wants to sit down and hash things out with municipal officials, arguing City Staff have been giving council “bad information.”
“Really have a conversation about what partnership is supposed to mean,” said Milovick. “We know that we are not going to own this piece of infrastructure. The City will maintain it. They’re supposed to construct it. But we were supposed to be consulted at all critical points where decisions are made.”
