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Kelowna is set for a very busy Canada Day on Wednesday, meaning that residents need to be aware of both road and parking closures.
As for roads, Water Street will be closed on July 1st from Cawston Avenue to Sunset Drive. This closure is in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but access to both the Delta Hotel and Prospera Place parking lots will still be maintained.
Canada Day festivities in Kelowna in 2014. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com)
The fireworks are set to go off at about 10:30 p.m., weather permitting. Vehicles won’t be able to get up Knox Mountain Drive after 8 p.m., but those on foot have access until 11 p.m. Knox Mountain Drive will open up again on Thursday at 9:30 a.m., with the exception of the part of the road above the upper gate.
Make sure you obey traffic control personnel at all times, especially since there should be a large number of pedestrians around.
Parking will also be affected by Canada Day festivities, with on-street parking restricted from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Water Street from Cawston Avenue to Sunset Drive. Bernard Avenue in front of Kerry Park will also be restricted from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The Mill Street parking lot will be closed from 6 a.m. until after the crowds have left from the fireworks. In addition, the Dolphins parking lot will be closed from noon on Tuesday, June 30th until noon on Thursday, July 1st. Those with monthly permits will be allowed to park in this lot on Thursday.
Full beach for Canada Day 2014. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com)
If you still need a place to park, you can still head to the Library Plaza Parkade at 1360 Ellis Street or Chapman Parkade at 345 Lawrence Avenue.
With the road and parking closures, it’s going to be tougher for motorists to get around. As a result, residents are encouraged to take the bus to see the fireworks. Buses will be running on the Saturday schedule throughout the day for the holiday, and additional buses will be ready at the Queensway Transit Exchange after the fireworks end to reduce overcrowding.
Regular fares still apply, but children under 12 ride free if they’re with an adult.
Service disruptions and traffic delays may happen on Canada Day with the road closures. All Route 2 North End buses will detour from Water Street to Cawston Avenue to Ellis Street, but then they’ll follow their regular route.
Last year's fireworks. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com)
For more route and schedule information, visit BC Transit's website under Kelowna. You can check out the complete Canada Day event schedule on Festivals Kelowna’s website, and make sure to check the City of Kelowna’s road report for the most up-to-date road work, road closures, and potential delays.
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