Second Juniper Ridge exit route to be built next year: City of Kamloops

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops says a second exit route out of Juniper Ridge should be built next year.

At present, the only entrance and exit via vehicle is Highland Road.

The problem with having only one access route was highlighted in July 2021, when a nearby wildfire prompted authorities to order Juniper Ridge to be evacuated. That caused a major bottleneck getting onto Highland Road, with some residents waiting an hour before they could escape. Other residents found an emergency unpaved escape route blocked by a locked gate.

In the weeks that followed, Kamloops council committed to building a second paved access route.

A pair of development applications came before Kamloops council on Tuesday (March 28), including one that requires the extension of Coldwater Drive in Juniper Ridge through to High Canada Place in Rose Hill.

One local resident voiced his objection to the development, saying no further residential development should be approved in Juniper Ridge until the second exit route is built.

That prompted Assistant Development, Engineering and Sustainability Director Dave Freeman to note the work should be underway next year.

“We’re actively working with the adjoining landowner, the Crown and our friends at [Tk’emlups te Secwepemc],” Freeman told council. “The application is in, we’re working on a final built form and we anticipate construction in 2024.”