What's Happening, Not Happening in the Shannon Lake Neighbourhood

The Shannon Lake Neighbourhood Association executive (SLNA) met with Ron Bowles, City of West Kelowna's CAO, on January 25th. The SLNA requested feedback on several issues effecting Shannon Lake residents.

Shannon Lake Road Improvements – Phase 2 of the Shannon Lake Road project will see continued enhancements to the corridor, including the addition of sidewalks, unprotected bike lanes, and streetlights—important steps toward improving pedestrian and cyclist connectivity in the area. While this phase will differ from the multi-use pathway approach implemented in Phase 1, it still represents progress in creating a more accessible and connected neighbourhood. The BC Active Transportation Design Guidelines highlight the value of multi-use pathways on arterial roads, and while that vision hasn’t yet been fully realized, there is still potential for future upgrades. In a written response to the SLNA executive, Rob Hillis, Acting Director of Engineering stated, “[Phase 2] of the project has been developed in consideration of future improvements, funding limitations, utility constraints and corresponding design elements in the area.” With these current improvements serving as a foundation, there remains optimism that future phases can continue to build on the community’s active transportation goals. 

Canyon Crest Drive– The city's response was consistent with the rationale provided when the "No left turn" median was first installed in 2022. As Hillis explained, "[The median] was installed following a thorough assessment by a traffic consultant, with the primary goal of maintaining efficient traffic flow along Shannon Lake Road." While it's clear that the City relied heavily on expert input, some residents feel their concerns should be given more weight in the decision-making process. Hillis goes on to suggest that the SLNA should take on the role of reminding residents to follow traffic laws. It feels like the City has created the problem and is now asking us to fix it. Still, some residents feel the City could do more to ensure that infrastructure design naturally supports safe and intuitive driving. As Strong Towns aptly puts it: “Effective street planning should align with human behavior, not work against it. Design should make it intuitive—and easy—for people to drive safely." 

Intersection at Shannon Lake Road and Tallus Ridge Drive – In conjunction with the broader improvements planned for Shannon Lake Road, the intersection at Tallus Ridge Drive will be redesigned to enhance overall safety and functionality. As part of this redesign, Tallus Ridge Drive will be realigned to meet Shannon Lake Road at a more perpendicular angle. This adjustment will significantly improve sight lines for drivers entering or exiting the roadway, reducing the potential for collisions and enhancing traffic flow. These changes are a direct response to community feedback and are a welcome step toward creating a safer, more efficient intersection. SLNA is grateful for Council Friesen’s support in advocating for this important safety improvement.

Hidden Entrance at Crystal Springs MHP - To improve safety, the SLNA requested the city consider installing 'Hidden Entrance Ahead' signs, flashing warning lights, or reduced speed zones in the area." The city has yet to provide feedback on installing appropriate warning measures, on both the northbound and southbound lanes of SLR to alert drivers to the entrance and exit used by Crystal Springs residents.

Connecting Asquith Road to Tallus Ridge Drive - In Hillis' response to the SLNA executive, he indicates that the City has potential future plans to connect Asquith Road and Tallus Ridge Drive. While this may be intended to improve overall connectivity within the community, it could raise significant concerns for residents of the Tallus Ridge neighbourhood. A future connection of this nature could inadvertently transform Tallus Ridge Drive from a quiet residential street to a high-traffic commuter route for vehicles traveling from the rapidly growing Smith Creek subdivision This change could erode the peaceful, family-oriented character of the area and pose serious safety risks.

In contrast, if the City’s primary motivation is to enhance emergency evacuation capacity in the event of a wildfire, a more balanced solution would be the installation of a gated emergency egress. Such a gate could be designed to allow access for emergency vehicles or facilitate controlled evacuation when needed, without opening the area to daily commuter traffic. This approach would protect the safety and integrity of the neighbourhood while still addressing valid public safety concerns.

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