City of Penticton, BC Conservatives call on province to improve alternate Okanagan connection

The condition of an Okanagan forest service road has been thrust into the spotlight after the Drought Hill wildfire closed Hwy 97 and Hwy 97C earlier this week, cutting off the South Okanagan from Kelowna.

“The Drought Hill wildfire and the closure of Highway 97 has once again exposed the vulnerability of our region’s transportation network. This isn’t a one-off – it’s a pattern,” said Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield in a statement on Thursday.

“We need a reliable, safe alternative route between Penticton and Kelowna, and the 201 Forest Service Road (FSR) is part of that solution.”

Wednesday’s closure of Hwy 97 was the latest incident to shut down the highway in recent years, including extended closures because of rockslides, car accidents and even a bomb threat this past January, all of which cause significant delays for drivers throughout the Okanagan, leading some to attempt to drive on the 201 FSR, potentially getting stuck.

The 201 FSR is a rural road that connects Penticton to Hwy 33. In the case of a Hwy 97 closure, the drive from Penticton to Kelowna using the 201 FSR and Hwy 33 could take around two hours, whereas it takes a little more than three hours to go down to Keremeos and up to Hwy 97C or down to Osoyoos and back up on Hwy 33.

“This road must be upgraded and maintained to a standard that allows typical vehicles to use it year-round,” added Bloomfield.

And Penticton’s city council and mayor are not the only ones who want to see the 201 FSR improved, but also the BC Conservatives and their local MLAs.

The BC Conservative Party released a statement on Friday, reiterating past calls for the government to pave the 201 FSR.

“The Drought Hill wildfire forced the closure of Highways 97 and 97C, once again exposing how vulnerable the Okanagan is without a safe, accessible alternate route,” said Macklin McCall, MLA for West Kelowna-Peachland.

“Earlier this year, during the bridge bomb threat, families trying to use the 201 Forest Service Road as a detour to Penticton became stranded and had to be rescued. Without immediate action to improve and pave this road, we’re putting public safety at risk every time there’s a crisis.”

A response from the Ministry of Forests to NowMedia stated that the 201 FSR is a resource road, meaning various sections of it are assigned to various industrial partners for maintenance through a road use permit.

“It is not part of the provincial highway system – and we urge people who choose to use the 201 FSR to be prepared before heading into the backcountry and be aware of posted signage that indicates potential area hazards,” added the response from the Ministry of Forests.

The statement also said that of the 12,000 kilometres of capitalized FSRs in the province, the Ministry of Forests prioritizes maintenance on FSRs that are required for safe and reliable access to rural communities and residents.

“The 201 can no longer be treated as a forgotten forest road. When a single incident can cut off access to critical services, jobs and emergency care, it’s clear our infrastructure is failing us,” said Bloomfield.

“This is a matter of safety, economic resiliency and supply chain connectivity – and council will continue to press for action until change is delivered.”