Despite some unforeseen delays along the previous phase of the work, the City of Kamloops insists its long-running Lansdowne sewar replacement project is still on-track to conclude in mid-November.

The final phase of the work began on October 21st, which was also supposed to have seen the previous work between 4th and 5th avenues wrapped up.

“We can pave in a little bit of rain. But when it was coming down the way it was a while ago, it held us back on the paving. We had to adjust our plan. Wait for favorable weather to put the asphalt down,” said Matt Kachel, the City’s Infrastructure Delivery Divisional Manager.  “We’re still going to be done the entire project by November 15th.”

Kachel concedes the delay in getting the previous phase done means the continued shutdown of the downtown bus loop.

“The plan is to get across 6th and get the bus exchange and everything back open,” said Kachel.  “I know it’s inconvenient for folks right now with having things relocated. It was just the safest way for us to do it. We do recognize the pain of that, and are moving expeditiously to get out of there.”

The City has relocated the downtown transit exchange to St. Paul Street as the work on Lansdowne continues.

Kachel says despite the continued inconvenience, it appears most transit users in Kamloops are taking it in stride, with few complaints reaching the City.

“No complaints that have been big enough where we’ve had to change anything, but just maybe some concerns around ‘hey, I have to walk farther,’ or ‘this isn’t convenient,'” said Kachel. “Also having people gathering for the bus in the neighborhood where they normally wouldn’t be expected.”