Be prepared for major disruptions if you’re trying to get to or from Alberta later this month.
The B.C. Government announced Tuesday that Highway 1 will be closed through the Kicking Horse Canyon between Golden and the Alberta border town of Castle Junction between Easter and Victoria Day weekends.
It means all non-local traffic will be routed onto highways 93S and 95 from noon on April 19 until noon on May 20, adding as much as 1.5 hours of travel time to the trip between those two communities which currently takes about 90 minutes.
“This closure will allow crews to proceed with work that cannot be carried out safely during shorter interruptions, such as construction on and adjacent to the existing highway, which includes the placement of heavy equipment on the roadway,” the ministry said, in a statement.
“Progress to date includes installing girders on three bridge and viaduct structures near the eastern end of the project, completing a major rock cut, and installing approximately 200 piles that will support walls and bridges for the improved highway.”
Local and commuter traffic will have brief access through the construction zone twice a day. They will all be escorted by a pilot vehicle during half-hour periods beginning at 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Similar escorts will be provided for school buses to ensure students have uninterrupted access to school, while emergency vehicles responding to an incident will be escorted through the area on short notice.
“Roadside signs will provide advance notification of the closure and there will also be signs on the alternative routes,” the ministry added. “Drivers are advised to use caution and watch for wildlife, school children and school buses while travelling the alternative routes.”
A similar five-week closure was in place between April 12 and May 14 of last year, with the ministry noting it is “designed to minimize travel disruptions during the peak summer and winter travel periods by having as much work as possible done at night and other off-peak periods.”
The ministry also says when completed in winter 2023-24, the 4.8-kilometre section of narrow, winding two-lane highway will be converted to a modern four-lane highway.
Updates on delays will be available online at DriveBC.ca
