THE KICKING HORSE CANYON ROUTE
The Trans-Canada Highway in the Rocky Mountains between Golden, British Columbia and Lake Louise, Alberta passes through some of the most breathtaking scenery to be found in Canada.
The section through the Kicking Horse Canyon just east of Golden is primarily a narrow, winding two-lane highway with steep rock faces on one side, and a drop-off to the CP Rail main line and Kicking Horse River on the other. Posing significant construction, maintenance and operational challenges, it has not had major upgrading since it was built in the 1950s.
Commercial carriers make up a large proportion of traffic along this section of the Trans-Canada Highway, and it is also the favoured route for tourists, carrying about 10,000 vehicles per day during the peak summer period.
Revitalizing this portion of the national highway system, a critical link to British Columbia’s ports and southern routes, is critical to strengthening the province as Canada’s Asia-Pacific connection and gateway to the world. As a result, the 26-kilometre Kicking Horse Canyon Project, consisting of improvements between the Highway 95 junction at Golden and the western boundary of Yoho National Park, is the provincial government’s number one transportation priority.
The highway is being improved to a modern four-lane standard with a design speed of 100 km/hour to move traffic more safely and efficiently. Sharp curves and steep grades are being reduced, and narrow bridges are being replaced to increase capacity, improve traffic operations and reduce hazards.
The first two phases of the project, cost-shared by the Government of British Columbia and the Government of Canada, are already completed.
Phase 3, which includes the Brake Check to Yoho Park and the Golden Hill to West Portal (canyon entrance) segments, is funded by a federal-provincial cost-sharing agreement under the Building Canada infrastructure plan.
Brake Check to Yoho Park was completed in 2011, bringing the total length of finished improvements to 17.8 kilometres out of the 26-kilometres Kicking Horse Canyon Project total.
Completed work on the Golden Hill to West Portal section consists of the Golden Hill 4th lane extension, ITS signs, Golden Hill Path, and 3.8 km of improvements under a design-build assignment.
The 4 Kilometre Wall and Approaches will be constructed in 2012.
Phase 4 is in the design phase and will tackle the difficult canyon section as well as the Highway 95 intersection in Golden.
