ALERT: Temporary Overnight Closure Along Columbia Avenue
By City of Castlegar
Castlegar’s main road, Columbia Avenue will be temporarily closed overnight on Sept. 21 to accommodate the necessary replacement of the rubber surfacing at the Canadian Pacific Railway crossing at 17th Street (near Century 21).
To minimize traffic disruption to our residents and visitors, the closure will be when traffic volumes are lowest. The closure will begin Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. and remain until Thursday, Sept. 22 at approximately 7 a.m. Electronic message boards will be placed on Columbia Avenue in advance and the closure will be advertised in local media so people can plan ahead.
“We know a closure will be inconvenient for some Castlegar residents and visitors and we hoped to keep the road open to single-lane alternating traffic,” says Travis Christianson, City of Castlegar Manager of Engineering & Infrastructure. “Unfortunately, this is not possible because safety is our top priority and the curve in the crossing requires custom panels that need to be aligned and adjusted together which means equipment will be constantly moving across the road.”
A detour along Hwy 3, across the Kinnaird Bridge and Hwy 3A by the West Kootenay Regional Airport will be in place. The detour may add approximately 10-15 minutes of additional travel time for drivers.
The City is working closely with emergency service providers and Fire, Ambulance and Police responses will not be impacted during the closure.
This project will be completed by Canadian Pacific Railway. Upgrading the crossing is good news for drivers as it addresses the long-standing issue at the crossing of rutting caused by the flexing of the current rubber surface. The crossing will be replaced with concrete panels that will eliminate this issue.
To ensure a smooth transition for vehicles, asphalt paving will take place Saturday, Sept. 24 from 7 a.m to 7 p.m. Traffic will be single lane alternating and drivers can expect minor delays.
The City of Castlegar is a service centre in the West Kootenay. The diversified and growing economy is focused on the forestry, energy and mining sectors in the valley, and commercial services in the City. Quality of life features backcountry adventure and an increasingly dynamic urban culture, including the Millennium Park & Ponds and Sculpture Walk.
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