Four years of construction at the Trans-Canada Highway east of Golden will be starting next week.

The highway will be widened at Kicking Horse Canyon.

Transportation Minister Rob Fleming says it’s an extremely challenging construction project on one of the most narrow sections of Highway 1 in the province.

“Crews will widen the Trans-Canada Highway to four lanes, just east of Golden, and 13 of the highway’s most infamous curves will be straightened by the contractors working on this project. Centre concrete barriers will be added to improve safety, separating oncoming traffic, and the shoulders will be widened to accommodate cyclists.”

The project will cost $601 million, with the federal government paying $215 million, and the B.C. government paying the rest.

“It’s an extremely challenging project from a construction perspective. There’s no doubt about that, in terms of the engineering challenges and the expertise that’s going to be required on this project. And it’s expensive, for that reason. It’s difficult terrain to do a major construction project like this. And that’s why B.C.’s contribution to this phase is $385 million dollars,” Fleming says.

The highway will be closed for five full weeks, from April 12 to May 14. Drivers will have to take an hour-and-a-half detour between Golden and Castle Junction, Alta., on Highways 93 and 95. The highway will be opened twice daily for local traffic, with a pilot car guiding traffic at 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. It says exceptions will be made when needed to allow school busses and emergency vehicles through the closure.

The B.C. government says after May 14, full weekday closures will be needed until May 31, apart from Victoria Day Monday.

The entire project should be done by the end of 2024.