A new, re-imaged rest stop will soon take form at the junction of Coquihalla (Hwy 5) and Connector (Hwy 97C) on the outskirts of Merritt.
Gateway 286 will be built on the site of the old Merritt Adventure Centre, which was permanently closed in 2018 when the Province unveiled a new Loon Lake rest stop along Hwy 97C.
Work has quietly been underway in recent years to prepare for the build of Gateway 286 and it will kick into high gear now following a blessing ceremony on Tuesday.
According to Troika, the Kelowna-based developer behind the project, the blessing ceremony was a “significant milestone” that commemorated “the start of vertical construction.”
“It’s about pausing to acknowledge the land, its spirit and the people who have cared for it for generations,” Troika CEO Renee Merrifield said about Tuesday’s occasion. “It’s about grounding this project not just in commerce, but in respect, relationship and reconciliation.”
The land being used for Gateway 286 was transferred in 2020 from the Province to Spayum Holdings LP, a consolidated development corporation owned by the five Nicola Valley First Nations.
The project will be developed through a partnership between Troika, Spayum Holdings LP and Canco Petroleum, suggesting that the gas station on the future site will be a Canco.
“Gateway 286 is transforming the historic rest stop at Exit 286 into one of British Columbia’s most dynamic highway commercial destinations,” explains a release from Troika.
“The project will serve nearly 20,000 vehicles per day, providing a mix of fuel, dining, retail and one of Western Canada’s largest EV charging hubs.”
For more information on Gateway 286, including how to inquire about leasing opportunities, click this link.
