Eckhardt Avenue Upgrades

This $5.5 million complete street project involves:

• 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.
• 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
• 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

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

Closing the Ontario Street connection to Eckhardt Avenue is intended to improve safety and livability in the neighbourhood. The change will reduce shortcutting traffic and speeding on a local residential street, support an important new trail connection, and respond to long-standing concerns from residents about traffic behaviour in the area. Council made this decision in 2025 following a targeted engagement process with nearby residents and the required bylaw process. This process included public notification of the proposed change and an opportunity for anyone who believed their interests could be affected to present their views to Council before a final decision was made.

The closure will involve adding a new multi-use pathway on Ontario Street, which currently has no sidewalks. For more information about the multi-use path construction along Ontario Street and Forestbrook Drive, and to view drawings, visit our Roadworks page. 

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

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View a detailed design plan of the overall Eckhardt Avenue project.

View design

• July 16, 2026: Government Street at Eckhardt Avenue will reopen by the end of day on Friday, July 17
• July 8, 2026: Work at Eckhardt and Government remains on schedule
• June 30, 2026: Final stretch begins: Eckhardt Avenue closure starts July 6
• June 24, 2026: Construction season builds momentum as City conducts major upgrades to roads and water systems
• June 5, 2026: Update on Eckhardt Avenue construction
• March 10, 2026: Watch for delays at Eckhardt Avenue in coming days
• Feb. 3, 2026: Watch for traffic changes near Penticton Secondary for next phase of Eckhardt Avenue construction
• Dec. 11, 2025: Eckhardt Avenue construction continues due to mild weather
• Aug. 25, 2025: Back to school tips during Eckhardt Avenue construction
• Aug.14, 2025: Eckhardt Avenue complete street upgrades begin
• Aug. 1, 2025: Major infrastructure upgrades and complete street improvements coming to Eckhardt Avenue

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.

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.

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.

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