Hwy 97 / Bennett Bridge Advocacy Letter to local MLAs

Okanagan residents impacted by the traffic congestion on the W.R. Bennett Bridge and Highway 97 are encouraged to use the TEMPLATE letter below (copy and paste) to advocate for immediate action to resolve the traffic congestion issues.

__________________________________________________________________________________

[Your Name]

[Email Address]

[Address]

[Date]

MLA Macklin McCall, West Kelowna Peachland – macklin.mccall.mla@leg.bc.ca 

MLA Kristina Loewen, Kelowna Centre – kristina.loewen.MLA@leg.bc.ca  

MLA Tara Armstrong, Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream – tara.armstrong.MLA@leg.bc.ca 

cc: Mike Farnworth, Minister of Transportation & Transit - minister.transportation@gov.bc.ca

Re: Forget the Lights—Fix the Traffic: Real Solutions for the Bennett Bridge

Dear MLAs McCall, Loewen, and Armstrong,

On September 17th, the Kelowna Daily Courier reported that “The City of Kelowna has had preliminary discussions with the Ministry of Transportation and Transit about the idea of adding colourful night lights to the W.R. Bennett Bridge, municipal officials say.”

The real issue facing our community is not how the bridge looks at night—but how it functions every morning and evening. Residents and businesses are being strangled by traffic congestion that worsens every week. Highway 97 and the William R. Bennett Bridge have become more than a daily inconvenience. They now represent an economic, health, and environmental problem that demands immediate government action.

A commute that should take 15 minutes now takes 45 minutes during peak hours. For the average worker, one additional hour per day adds up to 200 hours per year—five full work weeks lost to gridlock. Example: Truckers average pay: $28.00/hr x 200 hr = $5,600/yr translates into millions in wasted costs for commercial fleets and workers.

Stress from traffic increases employee absenteeism, sick days, and healthcare expenses, parents lose valuable family time and face higher childcare costs, and idling traffic wastes fuel and adds significant greenhouse gas emissions.

The congestion begins at the Bennett Bridge, where Highway 97 narrows and bottlenecks at the Abbott Road intersection, triggering gridlock for the entire corridor. While long-term projects may take years, practical short-term, economical fixes are within reach:

1. Eliminate the Abbott Road Intersection: End left turns and close the at-grade crossing, rerouting pedestrians via the underground pathway or Pandosy Street.

2. Redesign the Median and Lanes: Remove the median between Abbott and Pandosy Streets to create three continuous lanes from the bridge.

3. Synchronize the traffic lights: On Highway 97 (Harvey Ave) starting from Abbott Street north.

4. Convert the Middle Bridge Lane into an Alternating Direction Lane: Eastbound in the morning, westbound in the evening—immediately increasing peak-hour capacity.

Personal Impact Comment ((Please use this space to share how traffic congestion personally affects you, your family, or your business. Real stories make the case stronger.)

Traffic congestion on Highway 97 is not simply an inconvenience. It is a measurable drain on productivity, a threat to health, a burden on families, and a contributor to environmental damage.

The solutions are clear and achievable. What is needed now is political will and swift action—before lost time, lost dollars, and lost health mount any further. I urge you to prioritize real, functional solutions over cosmetic upgrades. Forget the lights—fix the traffic.

Respectfully,

[Your Name]