The Kamloops Law Courts is undergoing a $1.3-million facelift.
Construction crews have torn down the front staircase of the venerable brick building on Columbia Street and removed the front parking lot, rendering two of the three public entrances to the courthouse temporarily inaccessible.
According to a statement to KTW from the Ministry of Attorney General, the upgrades were given the go-ahead after workers determined the courthouse’s exterior staircase had deteriorated from age and weathering.
For about five years prior to work commencing last month, the staircase, made of concrete and brick, was propped up by wooden supports.
“The front stairwell will be replaced with a new design,” reads the statement from the ministry.
“Work also includes skylights, exterior lighting and balcony repair. As part of the upgrade, landscaping and changes to the parking area will improve access for the public.”
According to the ministry, the work is expected to be completed by the end of March. The price tag is an estimated $1.27 million.
While construction is ongoing, public access to the courthouse will be through the door on the south side of the building. The access road between the courthouse and Columbia Street remains closed during the upgrades.
“During construction, signage points out pedestrian and wheelchair accessible ways to enter the building,” the statement from the ministry reads.
The Kamloops Law Courts opened its doors in 1984, replacing the old courthouse which still stands at First Avenue and Seymour Street. The current courthouse was constructed on land owned by the provincial government and previously home to the old Kamloops Provincial Jail.
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