INFORMATION RELEASE

Recreation Sites and Trails BC is scheduled to conduct critical maintenance on the Kettle Valley Rail (KVR) Trail starting the week of Monday, July 14, 2025. This project is funded by the Critical Rail Trail Maintenance grant, which was awarded in 2023 for a three-year term, ending in March 2026.

Contractors will remove a failed culvert at the KVR and Robinson Creek crossing on the 'second track'. The culvert, located approximately 13 metres below the rail grade, will be replaced with a clear-span bridge to facilitate stream restoration on Robinson Creek. This project is situated at kilometre (km) 186.5 on the KVR Trail between the Glenfir parking area (km 192) and Adra Tunnel (km 184). Contractors are expected to start brushing (clearing of side vegetation) the week of July 14 before mobilizing the equipment at Robinson Creek. Access will be controlled with spotters and flaggers. Recreation users should anticipate access restrictions and construction traffic in this area.

Construction is anticipated to be completed by late fall 2026.

The 2025 schedule includes:

• Construction of new and upgraded bypass routes
• Site preparation and removal of deep earth fill
• Stream restoration activities

Access Restrictions

Due to the narrow rail trail corridor, safety-related access restrictions will be in place between Glenfir and Adra Tunnel until construction is complete. On-highway vehicle access between the Glenfir parking area and Adra Tunnel will not be possible during construction. Vehicles must park at the Glenfir parking area or Smethurst staging area (trailhead). The RDOS is supporting the project by upgrading pedestrian access from the Smethurst staging area to Adra Tunnel.

Off-road vehicles (ORVs) travelling from the south will be detoured at the construction site onto the old Elinor Lake Forest Service Road (FSR) alignment, through Rock Ovens Regional Park. Please note Rock Ovens Regional Park is a non-motorized area; ORVs must remain on the bypass trail surface.

Non-motorized trail users will take a short bypass near Robinson Creek (km 186.5) to avoid construction. Expect undulating terrain with steeper grades than typically found on the rail trails. The bypass route should not significantly increase travel time for most users.

For further information, please visit the RDOS Regional Connections interactive website at rdosregionalconnections.ca.

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Mark Pendergraft, Chair
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen

Contact:

RDOS Communications
250-490-4148
Toll-free 1-877-610-3737

Access plan:

 Click image to expand

Signage and maps will be located at key locations along the trail corridor and official parking areas.