A $23.2 million contract has been awarded to Emil Anderson Construction Inc. for the next phase of the Highway 97 stabilization project north of Summerland. The work covers the stretch between Callan Road and Okanagan Lake Provincial Park and aims to stabilize the slope alongside the highway.
Construction is scheduled to start this fall and is expected to finish by spring 2027. Once completed, the project will allow Highway 97 to return to its full four-lane configuration.
The work will include building a retaining wall and a catchment area at the base of the slope. A concrete wall will also be added alongside the highway for extra reinforcement. Rock anchors will be installed to secure the slope, followed by road surface repairs and drainage improvements. These measures are designed to prevent rockfalls and provide long-term support for the highway.
The stabilization project follows a major rockslide in August 2023, which closed the highway north of Summerland. Approximately 3,000 cubic metres of rock and debris fell onto the road, prompting extensive geotechnical studies.
Between October 2023 and June 2024, crews removed unstable rock using controlled blasting. More than 100 rock anchors were installed by fall 2024 during the first phase of the stabilization efforts.
Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes has stressed the importance of the highway for the region and called for a year-round alternate route. “It’s our lifeline. We’re so dependent on it for everything,” he said. Other regional mayors have echoed calls for an alternate route to ensure safe travel during highway closures.
This section of Highway 97 has a history of rockslides. In 2008, a fault in the rock face forced a 19-day highway closure. Similar slides occurred in 2014 and 2019, causing lengthy disruptions.
Highway closures create significant detours. Normally, the drive between Summerland and Peachland takes about 20 minutes. If the highway is closed, drivers must take a nearly 300-kilometre detour via Highway 97C, Highway 5A, and Highway 3.
In January 2025, Conservative MLAs urged the province to take stronger action on Highway 97’s ongoing risks. Misty Van Popta, MLA for Langley-Walnut Grove, called for a comprehensive plan addressing soil stabilization, fire prevention, and road widening to prevent future hazards.
During construction, motorists are advised to drive cautiously, obey posted speed limits, and follow traffic control personnel directions. The Highway 97 stabilization project aims to enhance safety, reduce rockslide risks, and maintain reliable travel for the Okanagan Valley community.
