---
title: "Kelowna Centre candidates split on second Okanagan Lake crossing"
description: "BC NDP and Conservative candidates in Kelowna Centre gave different answers on whether a second bridge across Okanagan Lake should be built."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/kelowna-centre-second-crossing-okanagan-lake-2026"
last_updated: "2026-10-10T23:28:53.495Z"
---

Candidates in Kelowna Centre gave competing answers on one of the Okanagan's longest-running infrastructure debates: whether British Columbia should build a second bridge across Okanagan Lake.

Global News reported on October 9, 2026, that a recent accident forcing southbound lane closures on the W.A.C. Bennett Bridge brought the question back into the provincial campaign two weeks before voting day.

## What the candidates said

BC NDP candidate Loyal Wooldridge told Global News there is already a plan to improve traffic flow on the existing bridge. "There's actually a plan on the books to improve traffic flow without the time and cost it would take, which would be billions of dollars to build a second crossing," Wooldridge said. He said his commitment if elected would be to advocate for Kelowna at the legislature.

Conservative candidate Kristina Loewen said planning for a second crossing should continue, with city and provincial cooperation. "We need to start planning for it in a way that works together with the city, works with multiple levels of government," Loewen told Global News. When asked whether her party was backing away from an earlier 2032 pledge, she said: "I don't feel like we're backtracking on that promise exactly. I would say that we're continuing to look at it."

Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson, speaking on the campaign trail, said he was listening to British Columbians on the question but did not reaffirm a specific timeline.

The BC Green Party candidate in Kelowna Centre was not available for comment, Global News reported.

## The previous Conservative commitment

Global News reported that the Conservative Party promised during the 2024 election to build a second crossing by 2032 if elected. Under current interim leader Lorne Doerkson, that specific timeline is no longer being stated as a firm commitment.

The Ministry of Transportation has not included a second bridge across Okanagan Lake in its 20-year transportation plan, according to Global News.

## For voters in Kelowna Centre

Voting day is October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs October 16 to 21. Candidate pages for Kelowna Centre are on this site at [/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/loyal-wooldridge](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/loyal-wooldridge) and [/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/kristina-loewen](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/kristina-loewen). The full candidate list for the district is at Elections BC, electionsbc.ca.

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/bc/provincial-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.