A number of large projects could make the difference between a potential fourth-straight record construction record in Kamloops in 2020.

Building and engineering development manager Jason Dixon says the expansion at Valleyview Secondary will be significant and a rebuild of Parkcrest Elementary, if the permit is issued this year, would be as well.

He says the linchpin will be the expansion to Royal Inland Hospital.

“Considering the hospital project, I expect 2020 to have probably quite a big construction value at the end of the year. But really, that’ll be on the back of that RIH project. It’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime type project, to see something that significant.”

Dixon says there’s nothing right now to indicate a significant slowdown of the pace of construction in Kamloops this year.

“I know I said we wouldn’t set three records in a row, and I have to eat a little crow with this one because we did. Hospital project aside, I don’t know if we’ll see another record year. But I don’t see anything that would indicate a big, big slowdown. I think we’re going to have another strong year.”

A building permit value record was set in 2017 in Kamloops at $224 million. That was beat in 2018 at $285 million and further beat in 2019 at $288.3 million.

“We almost didn’t break the 2018 record,” Dixon says. “We were still at $284 million on December 31st, but a few more permits were picked up before the close of the year, which brings the official 2019 total to $288.3 million.”

City hall has approved $797.5 million worth of building permits in those three record years from 2017 to 2019.

(Photo: Kamloops-Thompson School District)