Highway 1 through the Kicking Horse Canyon is opening a week ahead of schedule, says the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
People will once again be traveling through the area as of 6 am on Friday, Nov. 25.
The highway has been closed since the Thanksgiving long weekend in October, however, some major progress was made and the new alignment is now open for the winter.
“Travellers and commercial truckers are set to benefit from these significant upgrades through the Kicking Horse Canyon,” said Rob Fleming, BC’s minister of transportation and infrastructure.
“The old highway’s sharp corners are gone, with new viaducts and structures across sections of the canyon that improve the safety and reliability of this important interprovincial connection.”
Drivers return to a new, more efficient and reliable Hwy 1 route through the Kicking Horse Canyon on Friday, which is opening ahead of schedule! Travelers and truckers will benefit from these upgrades to this critical transportation corridor @TranBC https://t.co/3sTXLEPEDZ pic.twitter.com/qyDlgYhjDn
— Rob Fleming (@Rob_Fleming) November 23, 2022
When the highway opens later this week, traffic will move onto much of the newly built infrastructure using the future eastbound lanes while construction continues on the new westbound lanes.
In a new release, the ministry explains that nearly two kilometres of the new eastbound bridge and viaduct will be in use.
Drivers will be travelling the Bighorn, Frenchman’s and Blackwell bridges for the first time ever. The new eastbound lanes on the Lynx, Grizzly, Wolf, Elk, and Marmot viaducts will also be open.
Phase 4 of the Kicking Horse Canyon Project involves realigning and widening 4.8 kilometres of the Trans-Canada Highway through the canyon.
The project is expected to be finished in winter 2023-24 with the next stretch of full highway closures expected in spring 2023.
Drivers are reminded to obey construction zone speed limits and the directions of traffic personnel. Be sure to visit DriveBC for any future updates and potential closures.
Check out the drone footage of the project, provided by the province.
