Bennett Bridge crash brings Central Okanagan traffic to a standstill
The latest closure has renewed calls from local politicians and residents for a second crossing of Okanagan Lake.
On Tuesday morning, a major multi-vehicle collision on the Bennett Bridge brought Central Okanagan traffic to a standstill. Kelowna RCMP Cpl. Steven Lang stated that the cause of the accident and extent of injuries are yet to be confirmed. The collision occurred shortly after 4 a.m., resulting in closures of all three southbound lanes into West Kelowna and temporary closure of one northbound lane into Kelowna.
The five-hour incident led to significant traffic backups in both directions and prompted Mount Boucherie Secondary School to cancel classes for the day due to staff being unable to reach work. Motorists were advised to take an alternate route via Vernon and Westside Road, adding roughly 130 kilometers to their commute. Local politicians and residents have long called for a second crossing of Okanagan Lake, with Conservative MLA for Kelowna-Mission Gavin Dew stating that incidents like Tuesday’s crash demonstrate the need for additional transportation infrastructure.
Despite the issue being raised for years, a second bridge was not included in the province's 20-year transportation plan released in 2023. Conservative MLA for West Kelowna-Peachland Macklin McCall emphasized that congestion and the need for another crossing have been ongoing concerns. West Kelowna's prospective mayor Stephen Johnston suggested that a second bridge should be properly six-laned, with additional pedestrian and active transportation lanes, to alleviate traffic congestion and provide flexibility during accidents.
Written by urgent.news from Global News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
