WEATHER Sun/clouds High 15 C Low 4 C
SUN PEAKS SNOW REPORT Mid-mountain: 121 cm Alpine: 155 cm Snow phone: 250-578-7232
HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE
OOPS! THEY MAY DO IT AGAIN
NDP Leader John Horgan wants it
With baby’s arrival, downtown cafe departs
A10
B7
KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK THURSDAY
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30 CENTS AT NEWSSTANDS
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MARCH 12, 2015 | Volume 28 No. 31
WINNING BY A TIMBIT
Jim Elliot (left) and Dylan Drummond (middle) just aren’t nimble enough noshers as they work to down the remaining Timbits while Nathan Weissbock makes his way to the finish line in the Canadian Race yesterday (March 11) during International Days at Thompson Rivers University. The week-long celebration continues through the weekend. Tomorrow features the popular International Flag Parade at 2:45 p.m., followed by a five-hour International Showcase, Fashion Show and Food Fair in the TRU Gym beginning at 3 p.m. On the weekend, the gym will be home to a two-day powwow. Go online to tru.ca/idays for a full schedule of events. DAVE EAGLES/KTW
ENJOY SPRING BREAK WITH
SUN + SNOW
April start to major road realignment ANDREA KLASSEN
STAFF REPORTER
andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com
By the beginning of July, drivers heading west on Hugh Allan Drive will find some differences waiting for them at the intersections nearest the new casino slated to open at 1555 Versatile Dr., on the former Rona property. At an open house yesterday (March 11), staff from the city, Gateway Casinos and project consultants Urban Systems laid out planned upgrades for Hugh Allan, Versatile Drive and the on- and off-ramps from the Trans-Canada Highway. The $3.6-million road-realignment project was required by the city when it allowed Gateway to move its Lake City casino from Victoria Street. A raised median between the Pacific Way and Versatile intersections will block westbound traffic from turning left into the Dairy Queen, Shell gas station and Super 8 hotel. Going east, a new left-hand turning lane will be added for drivers who want to access the Trans-Canada Highway on ramp. The new configuration will also restrict traffic coming off the highway to right turns only. Drivers who want to head in the opposite direction will have to turn themselves around using a new onelane traffic circle that will be installed at the Hugh Allan and Versatile intersection. Kevin Gordon, Urban Systems’ project manager for the upgrade, said the roundabout, unlike a traditional stop sign, will keep traffic moving and
To see maps of new traffic system, go online to kamloopsthisweek.com should cut down on the potential for accidents at the intersection. “You come in, you’re looking to your left and, if it’s clear, you proceed,” he said. “There’s less conflicts.” If drivers want to avoid the traffic circle to access the casino, or are headed to the Costco store farther down Versatile, they can stay right and take a bypass lane, Gordon said. Drivers coming from the west will also be able to access the casino parking lot via a new driveway before the roundabout. Rather than use the traffic circle, cyclists will use pedestrian pathways located on both sides of the roundabout. A bike lane going west is also among the improvements. Gateways estimate the project will take about two months to complete, with a start date of early April. While work is underway, the city plans to upgrade water and sanitary sewer lines along the stretch, at a cost of between $300,000 and $400,000. Gordon said the city plans to maintain two-way access on Hugh Allan throughout the construction process and is also looking at ways to complete upgrades at the Hugh Allan/ Pacific Way intersection with as little disruption as possible, including night work and potentially boring under the intersection to upgrade sewer lines rather than digging up the road.