It’s the last week of lengthy traffic backups on West Victoria Street.

Drivers and transit users in Kamloops are being warned of delays through the construction zone next week, beginning on Nov. 13, as the final phase of paving gets underway.

The work will happen east of the Overlanders Bridge near Craftsman Collision and Signature Signs and Printing, but the city says both businesses will remain open during that time.

“We apologize for the significant delays that motorists and transit users have been experiencing while crews are working in Stage 4, particularly those people travelling down Summit Drive or on Mission Flats Road,” said Darren Crundwell, the city’s capital projects manager.

“Durning the week of Nov. 12, crews will also be pouring the remaining driveway letdowns and sidewalks on the north side of Victoria Street West.”

He says people may want to take an alternate route that day, adding that there will be signs and flagging crews to help drivers who need to access area businesses.

The plan is to still have all lanes of traffic open and pedestrian access restored by the end of next week. Crundwell says there will be some intermittent lane closures in the months to come but nothing near the lengths of what has been needed since work began in April.

“Next spring and summer, landscaping work will continue, hydro poles will be removed, remaining sidewalk panels will be installed, and paving and any additional remaining work will be completed,” Crundwell noted.

The 30 km/hr reduced speed limit is still in effect throughout the entire construction zone, which extends westbound from Lansdowne Street at 2nd Avenue to the Overlanders Bridge and eastbound from the Overlanders Bridge to Seymour Street West across from the BCLC upper parking lot access.

Fines for speeding in a construction zone start at $196.