Crews will be resurfacing portions of Highways 6 and 97 near Vernon and Falkland, one of several projects underway in the Interior that will see more than 300 kilometres of roads and highways paved this year, according to the government.

In all, 43 kilometres of highway will see hot-in-place asphalt recycling, including a segment of Highway 6 between Vernon and Lumby, two segments of Highway 97 near Vernon, and two segments of Highway 97 near Falkland. This $7.2-million project is expected to be complete by this summer.

“All these paving projects will make a big difference to residents as well as those who travel through the region,” said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, in a statement.

“Moving forward with highway improvement projects means we are providing jobs for British Columbians, but in all of these projects, safety comes first.”

Hot-in-place resurfacing involves reusing the existing asphalt by heating, softening and blending it with a small amount of new asphalt before reapplying it to the road surface.

Employees will be following orders from B.C.’s provincial health officer to minimize the risks of COVID-19 transmission. It will include complying with physical distance requirements. Workers with COVID-19 like symptoms will be have to self-isolate at home for at least 10 days.

While the highways and roads remain open, people are being urged to stay close to home and avoid any non-essential travel. There will be minor delays and at times single lane, alternating traffic as work progresses.

The province says more than $85 million is being spent on highway and side road improvements in the southern Interior in 2020. Other major resurfacing projects in the Kamloops area this spring and summer include:

• Highway 5 near Barriere – resurfacing approximately 16 kilometres of Highway 5 from McLure Ferry Road to Louis Creek Bridge;
• Highway 97A and side roads near Salmon Arm – approximately 13 kilometres of resurfacing on Highway 97A from Enderby to Grindrod, along with portions of Mabel Lake Road, Trinity Valley Road and Springbend Road
• Highway 5 near Merritt (10 kilometres) – resurfacing from Great Bear Snowshed to Dry Gulch Bridge;
• Highway 97 near Vernon (10 kilometres) – highway resurfacing from north of 43rd Avenue to College Way and along Old Kamloops Road; and
• Highway 97C near Merritt (12 kilometres) – mill-and-fill resurfacing from the Highway 5A Junction (Aspen Grove) to Pothole Creek Bridge.