A look at the westbound brake check and rest area on Highway 1 near Kamloops. (Image Credit: Google Maps)

By Elora McCormack

Highway 1 upgrades

Upgrade work on Highway 1 rest area west of Kamloops to begin this spring

Mar 26, 2026 | 12:31 PM

KAMLOOPS — Work to upgrade the westbound brake check and rest area on the Trans-Canada Highway west of Kamloops is set to begin this spring.

The Ministry of Transportation and Transit said the upgrades will increase capacity at the brake check, add better washrooms, and improve traffic flow. They add the project was identified as a priority in a 2022 planning study that was done in partnership with the BC Trucking Association.

“For commercial drivers, safe and accessible rest areas are essential infrastructure, not a luxury,” Bihoy Mascarenhas, director of policy for the BC Trucking Association, said in a statement.

“When drivers have reliable places to pull over, perform safety checks, take needed breaks and meet regulatory rest requirements, it supports both road safety and the efficient movement of goods across B.C. These upgrades are a welcome investment in the people who keep our economy moving.”

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The Province has not announced a specific start date for the Kamloops project, but it will happen some time this spring. The Ministry adds the project is part of the province’s $100 million Safety Rest Area Improvement Program, which was announced in 2023.

“Rest areas are an essential part of B.C.’s highway system, helping reduce the risk of accidents related to fatigue or the need for people to stop on highway shoulders,” added a statement from the B.C. government.

The Ministry also said Okanagan Aggregates Ltd. was awarded a contract worth over $11 million to complete upgrades at the Highway 1 Columbia rest area west of Revelstoke.

Work began on March 16 and the rest area will be closed to all traffic as of April 1. The Province expects that work will be completed in late 2026.