Green Avenue Traffic Safety Improvements

Underway: Construction is underway on Green Avenue, west of Skaha Lake Road. 

Starting Monday, June 29: Work will begin in front of Skaha Lake Elementary to upgrade sidewalks and crosswalks, with no impact to traffic. The construction contractor will notify residents throughout the area directly. 

Starting Monday, July 6: Crews will move into the intersection of Green Avenue and Skaha Lake Road to complete key safety upgrades, including shorter pedestrian crossings, revised signal operations and other changes. During this phase:

•    Traffic along Skaha Lake Road will be reduced to single lanes in each direction.
•    Access to Green Avenue at Skaha Lake Road will be closed, with detours in place.
•    Traffic signals will be temporarily out of service.
•    Minor transit detours will be in effect (visit bctransit.com for updates).

Drivers should expect delays and are encouraged to avoid the area where possible. Extra caution is advised, particularly at pedestrian crossings. This phase of work at the intersection is expected to continue for roughly six weeks.

Map of Partial Closure 

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Working Hours

End date: Late summer, 2026
Hours: Mon–Fri: 7 AM–5 PM

Extended hours may occur within permitted times (up to 10 p.m. weekdays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends).

Schedules may change due to weather, material delays, or unforeseen underground conditions.
 

The project includes a combination of rapid safety improvements on Green Avenue and at Skaha Lake Road, including:

Project Highlights

• Street design changes on Green Avenue will create a safer, more comfortable route for vulnerable road users, particularly families and students.  In some sections, the active mobility lane will be buffered from vehicular traffic by on‑street parking, which provides additional separation and protection. 
• Intersection changes at Skaha Lake Road and Green Avenue to begin the transformation of the Skaha Lake Road corridor from a highway design to an urban design, including shortened pedestrian crossings, revised signal operation and enhanced safety for all users.
• Accessibility upgrades will include adding audible pedestrian signals and leading pedestrian intervals (people walking and wheeling get a head start before vehicle traffic).
• Minor bus stop adjustments to better serve transit users, including the use of “floating” bus stops where appropriate.
• Parking will be maintained on the south side of Green Avenue from Skaha Lake Road to Green Court.

This work is being completed using a rapid implementation approach, allowing these upgrades to be delivered faster and at a lower cost.

Concept drawings have been developed for the Skaha Lake Road corridor (from Brandon Avenue to Highway 97) to illustrate how it could be redesigned from a highway into a more modern City street in the future. This is only a concept at this time and would require further design, engagement and budgetary approvals in the future. 

The only work on Skaha Lake Road is at the Green Avenue intersection, which is one of the city’s top 5 collision locations. These changes are focused on safety, especially for the many children and people of all ages who travel through this area every day. 

Clarifying Facts 

• We’ve heard there’s some confusion about the Green Avenue construction project. Let’s clear a few things up:
• Construction is only on taking place along Green Avenue. There is no approved, scheduled, or funded project to convert Skaha Lake Road at this time.
• The only work on Skaha Lake Road is at the Green Avenue intersection, which is one of the city’s top 5 collision locations.
• These changes are focused on safety, especially for the many children and people of all ages who travel through this area every day. 
• This work was initiated through the City’s Safe Routes to School program, which involved substantial feedback from families, guardians and community members.
• The new mobility lanes on Green Avenue will be painted on the road (as pictured below). 

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Map of Partial Closure Starting July 6 

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Map of Overall Construction Area

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Click here to view maps and drawings showing the planned Green Avenue traffic safety improvements. 

Click here to view future plans for the Skaha Lake Road corridor. This shows how the intersection will align with future plans for the corridor. Note that the full redesign concept is not being built at this time. It would be subject to future funding and Council decisions. 

Click here to view maps and drawings showing the planned Green Avenue traffic safety improvements. 

Click here to view future plans for the Skaha Lake Road corridor. This shows how the intersection will align with future plans for the corridor. Note that the full redesign concept is not being built at this time. It would be subject to future funding and Council decisions. 

This letter has been mailed out to neighbours. 

On Green Avenue,  east of Skaha Lake Road, on‑street parking will be retained on the south side of the street.

• Approximately 35 parking spaces will remain available, compared to roughly 39 that exist today.
• A City parking audit found that approximately 10 to 20 spaces were typically in use at various times of day.
• Parking is being kept on one side only to maintain a consistent, straight roadway alignment.

To discourage shortcutting through nearby neighbourhoods, the City has completed Friendly Streets initiatives in surrounding residential areas, which include physical traffic safety measures and a target speed of 30 km/h.

Can I park on the street?

During construction, on-street parking will not be permitted within the construction area. Once construction is complete, parking will be permitted on the south side of the street, in designated areas.

Will I have access to my home?

Temporary access may be impacted during certain construction activities; however, access will be maintained as much as possible. You will be notified of any impact to access your home in advance.

Will mail and garbage services be affected?

These services will continue with minimal disruption. Please follow any temporary signage or crew instructions.

Want to learn more? 

There will also be a City of Penticton Council Open House on May 6, 2026, running from 4:00PM to 7:00PM at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, where staff will be available to answer questions.

The recent conversion of Skaha Lake Elementary school has added approximately 400 children aged five to 12 to the area, alongside the opening of a new on-site daycare with 80 spaces. As a result, more children, parents and caregivers are walking, using mobility devices and crossing Skaha Lake Road each day.

Improve safety for everyone on the roads

The changes support recommendations from the City’s Safe Routes to School Plan for Skaha Lake Elementary and the City’s Master Transportation Plan, both of which identify this area as a priority for safety improvements. 

The Green Avenue and Skaha Lake Road intersection has been identified by the School District as the top safety priority to support these school changes. Green Avenue is also an important east-west connection, linking the Lake to Lake Route with the Channel Pathway, and many amenities in between, and is already used by many people travelling between these key community destinations.

One of Penticton's top collision locations

This intersection has a history of collisions, and improving safety for everyone – whether walking, rolling or driving – is a key City priority. The project also aligns with the City’s Official Community Plan and Community Climate Action Plan by supporting healthy travel choices, safer school areas and a more connected community.

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Skaha Lake Road was constructed as a highway back when it served as part of Highway 97. This means travel lanes are wider and more numerous than are needed today, which encourages higher vehicle speeds and overall reduced safety for all road users. As a result, vehicles often travel quickly through this intersection, making it one of the city’s highest collision locations. This is especially concerning given the considerable number of children and people of all ages who walk in the area.

Now, the plan is to shift from highway standards to a urban street design that creates a road that works better for daily city life, supporting drivers as well as people walking, riding or taking transit. 

By redesigning this intersection from a highway to a typical street design, it will: 

• Reduce pedestrian crossing distances
• Lower vehicle speeds
• Reduce the likelihood and severity of collisions

As an example, the average pedestrian crossing time (the time they are exposed to vehicular traffic) at this intersection is expected to be reduced from approximately 24 seconds to 15 seconds.

Click here to view future plans for the Skaha Lake Road corridor. Concept drawings have been developed for the Skaha Lake Road corridor (from Brandon Avenue to Highway 97) to illustrate how it could be redesigned from a highway into a more modern City street in the future. This is only a concept at this time, and would require further design, engagement and budgetary approvals in the future. 

Construction is scheduled to begin on May 4, 2026, on the west side of Skaha lake Road. 

• Work will be phased over approximately four to eight months, with work starting west of Skaha Lake Road.  The work east of Skaha Lake Road will commence once school is out for summer break.
• Some elements, such as line painting and select crosswalk improvements, may occur separately from intersection construction.
• Temporary traffic changes and minor delays should be expected during construction.

The City has consulted with emergency responders to ensure emergency access is maintained throughout the project.

Project Highlights

• Street design changes on Green Avenue will create a safer, more comfortable route for vulnerable road users, particularly families and students.  In some sections, the active mobility lane will be buffered from vehicular traffic by on‑street parking, which provides additional separation and protection. 
• Intersection changes at Skaha Lake Road and Green Avenue to begin the transformation of the Skaha Lake Road corridor from a highway design to an urban design, including shortened pedestrian crossings, revised signal operation, and enhanced safety for all users
• Accessibility upgrades will include adding audible pedestrian signals and leading pedestrian intervals (people walking and wheeling get a head start before vehicle traffic).
• Minor bus stop adjustments to better serve transit users, including the use of “floating” bus stops where appropriate.
• Parking will be maintained on the south side of Green Avenue from Skaha Lake Road to Green Court.

Note this project does not involve work along Skaha Lake Road. Concept drawings have been developed for the Skaha Lake Road corridor (from Brandon Avenue to Highway 97) to illustrate how it could be redesigned from a highway into a more modern City street in the future. This is only a concept at this time, and would require further design, engagement and budgetary approvals in the future.

This location is one of the City’s top 5 collision locations as demonstrated by ICBC data. In addition, the City has been conducting safety monitoring at the intersection over the past couple of months to better understand the near-misses, and the types of collisions that are most likely at the intersection.

The data shows that roughly 70% of the conflicts are vehicle to vehicle, while nearly 30% involve pedestrians.  

The redesigned intersection is estimated to eliminate 50-60% of these conflicts, while significantly reducing the exposure time for vulnerable road users navigating the intersection.  

Over the past 12 months, pedestrian crosswalk volumes averaged ~26,000/month with peaks in Sep–Oct and spring. Cyclist road volumes show a strong seasonal pattern — peaking in summer (~4,600 in Jul) and dropping to ~700 in December.

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Learn more about traffic safety initiatives in Penticton
 

The City retained a transportation consultant to assess how these changes would affect traffic operations. The analysis found that the intersection will continue to operate with good mobility performance, both now and into the future.

If traffic patterns change over time, there is sufficient space to extend the southbound left‑turn lane in the future. The City is also exploring the addition of advanced left‑turn signals (green arrows) to further improve safety.

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On Green Avenue,  east of Skaha Lake Road, on‑street parking will be retained on the south side of the street.

• Approximately 35 parking spaces will remain available, compared to roughly 39 that exist today.
• A City parking audit found that approximately 10 to 20 spaces were typically in use at various times of day.
• Parking is being kept on one side only to maintain a consistent, straight roadway alignment.

To discourage shortcutting through nearby neighbourhoods, the City has completed Friendly Streets initiatives in surrounding residential areas, which include physical traffic safety measures and a target speed of 30 km/h.

Can I park on the street?

During construction, on-street parking will not be permitted within the construction area. Once construction is complete, parking will be permitted on the south side of the street, in designated areas.

Will I have access to my home?

Temporary access may be impacted during certain construction activities; however, access will be maintained as much as possible. You will be notified of any impact to access your home in advance.

The #1 Okanagan Lake/Wiltse and #3 Uplands/Skaha Lake routes will be maintained for the majority of construction. Temporary detours may be necessary during work in the intersection of Skaha Lake Rd. Please visit the BC Transit website for more details.

Work in front of the school and daycare will occur during summer break. For those still accessing these facilities, their parking lot will be maintained. Temporary closures may limit the parking lot access to one entrance or direction at a time. Alternative drop-off locations will be available in the interim:
    - ‘Kiss & Go’ stations as signed along Green Avenue
    - ‘Drive to Five’ option at Arnott Pl or Waterford Ave
    - Seniors Drop-In Centre parking lot 
    - A ‘walking school bus’ (click for sign-up info)

Through the Safe Routes to School program, the City and School District are working to reduce congestion directly in front of schools by encouraging safer, more active travel options. These include:

• “Drive to Five” locations, where families can park a short walk away
• “Kiss and Go” drop‑off areas for quick stops
• A Walking School Bus program operated by the Penticton Safety Village, which will use the Green Avenue route

Families are encouraged to consider these options during the school year. 

For questions about the underground infrastructure upgrades or road surface improvements, contact the Engineering Department. To make a suggestion or report a concern, please use our online form.

Engineering Department
Phone: 250-490-2521
Email: engineering@penticton.ca

CONTRACTOR INFORMATION:
250-492-6121