Kicking Horse Canyon project reaches substantial completion

Key Takeaways:

• The fourth phase of the $600M project was the most challenging, said officials.
• After a winter pause on work, crews will finish the project off with landscaping, wildlife fence installation, limited final paving and painting of permanent line markings.
• The work has transformed the narrow, winding two-lane highway into a modern four-lane, 100 km/h standard.

The Whole Story:

People travelling the Trans-Canada Highway through the Kicking Horse Canyon are now using a wider, safer, four-lane divided highway.

The opening of all four lanes this month marks substantial completion of Phase 4 of the Kicking Horse Canyon project. Construction will pause now for the winter. When it resumes in the spring, the final pieces of the project will be completed, including landscaping, wildlife fence installation, limited final paving and painting of permanent line markings.

Officials say construction in spring may require minor lane closures and delays. Details will be posted on the project website in March 2024.

The section of Highway 1 through the Kicking Horse Canyon has a posted speed limit of 80 km/h until completion in spring 2024. Following completion, it will be posted at 100 km/h. Motorists are reminded to be prepared for winter, drive appropriately for the conditions, and be alert to the presence of wildlife.

More than $600 million is being invested in the project, with the Government of Canada contributing $215.19 million and the B.C. government providing the remaining $385.58 million.

The Kicking Horse Canyon, located just east of Golden, B.C., is one of the most rugged sections on the Trans-Canada Highway. As a tourist and commercial transportation corridor, the highway carries more than 10,000 vehicles daily during the summer. While the mix varies by season, up to 30% of the traffic consists of commercial vehicles moving millions of dollars in goods to serve interprovincial and international trade.