The first phase of Kelowna International Airport’s (YLW) plans to meet the growing needs of the region gets underway next week.

Crews will begin preliminary work to wide Airport Way on Tuesday, July 31.

The necessary work includes the removal of trees and shrubs, which will be replaced with new landscaping one the project is complete this fall.

YLW doesn’t anticipate much impact to vehicle traffic and there will certainly be no impact to the flights coming in and out of the airport.

Construction this year will add a westbound lane on Airport Way, between Hwy 97 and the Okanagan Rail Trail, as well as a paved sidewalk, new native shrubs and LED street lighting.

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Future phases of construction will focus on improving traffic circulation and safety within the airport lands by constructing a roundabout at Airport Way and Lochrem Road.

It will provide easy access to the terminal, tenant properties, long-term parking and Airport Plaza.

YLW served 1.89 million passengers in 2017, a 9.3% increase from 2016.