Section of the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail to close next week

Construction continues on the Splatsin te Secwépemc/Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail.

Work on the fourth section of the trail started in April. The trail will eventually provide a 50-kilometre greenway for walking and cycling from Sicamous to Armstrong.

However, the construction will cause a temporary five day closure on the trail next week.

According to a news release from the Regional District of North Okanagan, the trail will be closed along Mara Lake from kilometre 2.8 (Folland Road) and kilometre 14.8 (Rosemond Lake Bridge).

The closure will begin Monday, Aug. 18 and last until Friday, Aug. 22. The trail is expected to be fully opened to the public by next Saturday.

Crews will be installing a culvert and carrying out drainage improvements in the area.

According to the news release, the work is being done under a provincial environmental permit, which only allows construction to take place between Aug. 7-31 to minimize impacts to the Shuswap River watershed and associated fish habitat.

A short section of the trail near Sicamous from kilometre 0.5 to kilometre 2.8 will remain open.

The Sicamous Ferry, operated by the non-profit Sicamous Ferry Society, will continue to run as well, the RDNO said.

“The rail trail partners understand the work will be an inconvenience, especially with the increasing level of interest and excitement about this section of trail. We are committed to getting the project finished quickly so full access can resume,” the release said.

“We thank the public for their patience and understanding during this short-term closure.”

The project is a collaborative effort between the RDNO, Columbia Shuswap Regional District and Splatsin First Nation.