Vehicles are backed up along the hill approaching the Bennett Bridge from West Kelowna this morning, as the route remains closed.

Kelowna RCMP shut the bridge in both directions around 3:45 a.m. and continue to wait for the explosive disposal unit from the Lower Mainland to arrive on the scene of an incident that involved a person in distress.

A van is parked across both northbound lanes of Highway 97 at the bottom of Bridge Hill. Police took a man safely into custody, but not until after he lit a small fire inside the van.

Before the vehicle can be removed from the scene, it will have to be checked over by the bomb squad.

??CLOSED #BCHwy97 - William R. Bennett Bridge remains closed in BOTH directions due to an ongoing police incident.

Expect delays. #Kelowna

Alternate Routes and maps are available - check https://t.co/MNovn5LekK

??https://t.co/y8y6dS35cc pic.twitter.com/m5SbdKBq1P

— DriveBC (@DriveBC) January 27, 2025
Drive BC has posted alternate routes for people who must travel between West Kelowna and Kelowna, including Westside Road through Vernon and then back down Highway 97. Expect heavy traffic and delays if you are taking that route.