More than 20 kilometres of road is being repaved on Highway 97D connecting Logan Lake to the Coquihalla Highway.

In an effort to boost safety, the road improvements will include wider paved shoulders, rumble strips and other safety features.

The Ministry of Transportation announced the improvements to the road on Tuesday as part of the provincial government’s 10-year transportation plan known as B.C. on the Move.

The entire stretch of Highway 97D from the Walloper Interchange to Logan Lake will be repaved.

Minister of Transportation Todd Stone said this improvement and investment is critical for the people who live in Logan Lake, work at the Highland Valley Copper mine, and tourists who visit the area.

He said the 97D has pot holes and shoulders that are in poor condition in some spots.

“It’s a secondary highway in this province, which is starting to show its age. It’s clearly in need of some repair. It’s safe to travel on, but it’s got some pretty noticeable bumps along the way,” Stone said.

The project is going to tender this month and it’s expected to be complete this fall.

The government plans to spend upwards of $1 million on this project, but the exact number won’t be known until a contract is awarded.

“It’ll be somewhere in that two to $5 million range,” Stone told the Herald.

Stone said motorists can expect up to 20 minute delays in either direction once the rehabilitation project begins depending on the day and section of the road being worked on.

“We will do our upmost to minimize those impacts, taking into account factors like the bulge of commuter traffic that comes along this stretch heading towards Highland Valley [Copper mine] at the beginning of the day and the similar volume of traffic that leaves Highland Valley and Logan Lake at the end of the day,” Stone said.

Improving this highway is something the District of Logan lobbied for, Stone said.

Logan Lake Mayor Robin Smith said she’s happy to see the benefits of the B.C. on the Move project in her community and the region.

The province is spending $380 million over the next three years to resurface provincial highways with 1,000 kilometres of road resurfaced annually.