Aside from the presence of COVID-19, spring in Salmon Arm is slightly different this year in terms of one distinctive local sign.
Shoemaker Hill, as the twisty, steep part of 10th Avenue SE near Fifth Street SE is commonly known, opened a few weeks later than normal.
City staff have reported the switch-backed roadway typically opens in mid-March. In 2019, it was March 25.
This year, it’s April 9.
Read more: Salmon Arm’s Shoemaker Hill closed for winter
Read more: Fully loaded asphalt truck tips over on Shoemaker Hill
The route is well-used by motorists heading to and from downtown into the Hillcrest area or industrial park.
Unfortunately, particularly for the residents who live below, it is also sometimes used by transport truck drivers despite it being designated ‘no trucks.’
Trucks sometimes get stuck on the switchback or, like one truck in 2018, lose control and end up perched precariously on the bank.
Observers have reported that GPS mapping does not always translate well for the big rigs on community roads.
marthawickett@saobserver.net
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