B.C. Highway and Border Infrastructure Project in the Works

Deadly Kicking Horse Pass Section of Highway 1 Will Get an Upgrade

A recent announcement confirms that a joint collaboration of the British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA) in conjunction with the federal government will invest $336 million into a highway and border infrastructure improvement project. BCAA hopes that this will be the beginning of a long-term plan in the step towards roadway upgrades in the mountainous province. It is a commended effort on behalf of the provincial-federal governments to give funding to the Trans-Canada Highway through the Kicking Horse Pass section of the highway, a route which requires much attention.

This map-model is on display at the Spiral Tunnels overlook on the Kicking Horse Pass section of the Trans-Canada Highway in Yoho National Park, British Columbia. The silver represents the present-day railway line, the red circles are the railway lines two spiral tunnels and the black is the old railway route, much steeper, that now serves as the highway.

The major issues of transportation safety lie between the Kicking Horse Canyon and the Sicamous-to-Alberta stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway. It is noted that since 1988 there have been about 2,900 injuries and nearly 150 deaths between the B.C.-Alberta drive. Bill Bullis, BCAA President and CEO, was thrilled with the new announcement. He said that, "we're very pleased that the federal government has finally heard the pleas of the many motorists who regularly travel the Trans-Canada between B.C. and Alberta."