Eckhardt Avenue Upgrades

This $5.5M complete street project involves:

• Replacing cast iron water mains with PVC, along with water service upgrades 
• Hydrant spacing improvements 
• Storm water upgrades to address localized drainage issues 
• Increase catch basin coverage
• Crosswalk safety upgrades at Ellis Street, Gahan Avenue and the KVR Walkway which includes improved lighting, crossing distance reductions, and enhanced marking and crossing features.
• Install a curb-level bike lane (or sidewalk-level bike lane), consistent with Eckhardt Avenue west of Main Street. This will allow for connection between the existing Government Street lanes, KVR trail and Lake-to-Lake Route.
• Electrical wiring upgrades, bringing overhead wiring underground
• New paving and line painting 
• Haywood Street: closing the entrance off Eckhardt 
• Ontario Street: closing the entrance off Eckhardt

View a detailed design plan of the project.

View design

 Please note these timelines are approximate, subject to change and weather permitting.

Phase I (2025): Currently underway, from Ellis Street to Gahan Avenue, with completion expected by November. Some winter work may occur as weather permits.

A full road closure will be in effect between these streets due to the nature of the underground utility work required, which means the following entrances from Eckhardt Avenue will be temporarily unavailable until the work is completed:

• Van Horne Street
• Braid Street
• Beams Lane
• Papineau Street

Main traffic detour map:

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Large truck detour map

A separate detour is available for large trucks traveling to and from Naramata via Vancouver and Westminster Avenues.

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Phase 2 (Spring/Summer 2026): As soon as weather permits in 2026, improvements between Gahan Ave to Ontario St will begin.

Phase 3 (Summer/Fall 2026): Main St to Ellis St will begin upon completion of Phase 2. This section is anticipated to be complete in Fall 2026.

What about school drop off?

Access to Penticton High School will be available via Main Street.  

Alternate drop-off opportunities include:

• Kiss & Go stations across from 723 Main Street
• 'Drive to Five' option at the Penticton Public Library parking lot
• Behind the school along Jermyn Avenue  (be prepared for extra congestion with KVR Elementary students)
• Ellis Street

More details will be shared closer the beginning of the school year. See our Safe Routes to School page for more information about Kiss & Go stations and what it means to 'Drive to Five'.

The scope of this project begins at Government Street and finishes at Main Street, including directly in front of Penticton High School. The goal of this project is to replace aging and deficient underground infrastructure while improving transportation safety by creating distinct travel spaces for pedestrians and cyclists.

This initiative aligns with goals identified in the Transportation Master Plan, the Climate Action Plan, as well as the Safe Routes to School program, which supports active transportation to reach the City's climate goals. It also supports the following Council Priorities:

• Safe and Resilient
• Livable and Accessible

Download a copy of the map here or view it below. 

Map of Pen High & KVR Elementary 

Download the map here or view it below. 

Download the map here or view it below. 

Note that a section of Eckhardt Avenue will be closed during construction, with no through access from a stretch of White Avenue. Download the pedestrian access map here or view it below. 

The main reason for this project is to replace or renew underground infrastructure which necessitates reconstruction of the entire roadway: our aging underground infrastructure as well as moving electrical utilities underground to provide more robust services for demands we’re seeing now and into the future. 

The street surface improvements were identified as part of the City’s Master Transportation Plan, and support the City’s Safe Routes to School initiative, and have been bundled with this project since the road has to be reconstructed anyway, and to lessen the amount of community impact by completing the upgrades all at once – also known as a complete street project. The bike lanes will be sidewalk level, not road level, separate and protected from vehicles, consistent with the existing raised bike lanes on Eckhardt Avenue west of Main Street.

Where properties have only one egress/ingress access onto Eckhardt Avenue, access to driveways will be maintained through construction. 

You may be required to detour to access your property. For example when coming from Government Street you may need to use Gahan Avenue rather than turning left onto Eckhardt Street. If in doubt, approach a traffic control person and they can assist

 

For properties with only one driveway access on Eckhardt Avenue, waste collection will be maintained as usual. Collection trucks will also follow posted detours for resident access. If a change to collection is required by the contractor, impacted properties will be notified.

There will be no street parking available during construction and upon the project’s completion. Street parking is available, unrestricted, along Gahan Avenue, Haywood Street, Burns Street and Papineau Street.

The City will monitor the parking impacts in the neighbourhood following completion of the project and will evaluate if there is a need to expand the resident only parking area to include these streets.

Learn more about the resident parking program.

 

Traffic safety measures were requested by residents on this street to prevent short cutting and speeding. Ontario Street is a low volume residential road and should not be used to by-pass Government Street for through traffic. There are also incidents of drivers going around the meridian and turning left to access Government Street, which is illegal. The closure will make this section much safer for all road users.  The City has engaged with directly impacted residents and emergency services.  

Currently the flashing traffic light will remain as is. City staff will monitor the traffic volumes and movements once the project is complete and will determine whether a full traffic signal is required.

Yes, for buses as well as staff, student and visitor parking. Student drop-off via the parking lot is not recommended as it will result in significant delays. Please watch for signs and obey traffic control personnel.

Access is still available to the parking lot but using alternative drop off points are strongly recommended.

Alternate drop-off opportunities include:

• Kiss & Go stations across from 723 Main Street
• 'Drive to Five' option at the Penticton Public Library parking lot
• Ellis Street
• Jermyn Avenue (be prepared for extra congestion with KVR Elementary students)

Significant traffic is expected along Jermyn Avenue during peak school start and end times throughout construction. Anyone using this route for school drop-off (elementary or high school) should be prepared for delays. Parents of KVR elementary students are encouraged to use Forestbrook Drive and Manitoba Street for drop off whenever possible.

More details will be shared closer the beginning of the school year. See our Safe Routes to School page for more information about Kiss & Go stations and what it means to 'Drive to Five'.
 

Consultation has been ongoing since 2024 with city-wide opportunities, as well as targeted engagement with residents living directly along the corridor. Similarly, targeted engagement with residents on Ontario Street. Emergency services have also been consulted as part of this work.

August 25, 2025: Back to school tips during Eckhardt Avenue construction
August 14, 2025: Eckhardt Avenue complete street upgrades begin
August 1, 2025: Major infrastructure upgrades and complete street improvements coming to Eckhardt Avenue

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