Tappen Co-op Gas Bar and Hwy 1 Upgrades
By Barbra Fairclough
The Ford Road to Tappen Valley Road Hwy 1 Project is currently under construction. Work on the 4.3-kilometre section of highway will include widening the two-lane highway to four lanes, replacing the aging Tappen overpass and constructing frontage roads, says a release from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
It begins at Ford Road and extends east to 400 meters east of Tappen Valley Road through the Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw (formerly Little Shuswap Lake Band Reserve #5) and the community of Tappen.
Funding for the $243-million project was announced in July 2021, with the provincial government providing $161 million and the Government of Canada contributing approximately $82 million.
On the west end of the project eastbound, a new commercial vehicle safety pull out will allow CVSC to safely perform safety checks. This pullout will also include street lighting. Median barriers will be installed.
Wider shoulders and over 7 km of new frontage roads will support cyclists, pedestrians and people using other modes of active transportation. Property owners will no longer have driveways directly off the highway eliminating conflicting left turns and reducing potential for vehicle conflict points.
James Road will have an improved intersection at Sunnybrae Canoe Point Road and will be extended to form part of the new frontage road system to serve the local traffic. Where Sunnybrae Canoe Point Road meets Hwy 1 there will be a protected intersection including acceleration and deceleration lanes. Tappen Station Road will be a new frontage road and will provide safe access to Tappen community and the Tappen Co-op gas station.
The Tappen Co-op will remain open during its own current construction, building a new gas bar that will accommodate eight cars. The older underground tanks will be retired and will open the west side of the store for improved parking and potential new uses. Co-op manager Rhonda Edison says the prospects for electric charging stations are currently under review. “There are a few moving parts, but we are hopeful to have the new gas bar open in June some time.”
A Ministry of Transportation spokesperson confirms traffic management plans will be implemented during construction to minimize disruptions including at Sunnybrae Canoe Point Road. “Our goal is to maintain access to local amenities during construction including Coop gas station.”
The existing Tappen Valley Road will lead to an acceleration lane for eastbound traffic and will also extend under the Tappen overhead to a protective T enter section for westbound traffic. The current Tappen Creek culvert will be upgraded to a bridge designed to accommodate large animals and improve fish habitat and new wildlife fencing is included to support use of wildlife underpass.
Kirkpatrick Road would collect local traffic and connect the frontage system loop with the Tappen community. The new Arnous Road will bring travelers to the Tappan community and Tappen Co-op gas station via an eastbound deceleration lane and will provide eastbound highway access through a new acceleration lane. The current overhead will be replaced with two new structures: a 2-lane westbound bridge and a 3-lane eastbound bridge.
There will be restricted highway closures during peak commuting times during construction. For current road conditions refer to Drive BC.
Highway 1 - Ford Road to Tappen Valley Road (Credit:Flickr)
