Image Credit: CFJC Today / Aaron Schulze

By James Peters

Kamloops Traffic

Changes coming to improve traffic flow at busy downtown Kamloops intersection

Oct 14, 2025 | 12:42 PM

KAMLOOPS — Commuters who regularly travel through downtown Kamloops using Columbia Street will notice some significant changes starting this weekend.

In a news release, the City of Kamloops says it will remove one of the two left-turn lanes on eastbound Columbia at Third Avenue in front of Royal Inland Hospital. The removal will take effect on Saturday (Oct. 18).

According to the city, this change will allow left turn signals to run on the eastbound and westbound lanes concurrently. Running the left-turn lanes at the same time will mean straight-through traffic on both lanes will also be given more time per light cycle.

At the same time as these changes, the city says it will optimize light signal timing throughout the Columbia corridor between First and Sixth Avenues.

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The city says the changes will result in ‘similar queuing times’ for vehicles turning left but will significantly improve timing for straight-through traffic.

The timing of the changes is meant to align with the end of the Overlanders Bridge Maintenance Project, which is scheduled to end this Thursday (Oct. 16).