Park Management
Trans-Canada Highway Twinning Project
Update: December 2010
Printable Version (PDF, 170 KB)
Upgrading of the Trans-Canada Highway in Banff National Park from two to four lanes has been undertaken in phases as funding allowed since 1981. The final phase of twinning is currently within budget and on-schedule to be in service by 2013.
Map of Phases IIIB-1, IIIB-2 and IIIB-3 © Parks Canada
Castle Junction to Lake Louise
Twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) between Castle Junction and Lake Louise has largely been completed. Construction of a final wildlife underpass, rehabilitation of Mannix Pit, bridge repairs at Castle Junction and final landscaping will be completed by the end of 2011. Starting this winter, a 90 kph speed limit is in effect, but will be reduced along sections as needed for final construction work in 2011.
Icefields Parkway Interchange
From Lake Louise, highway twinning is also complete to the Bow River highway bridge four km west of Lake Louise, including a newly upgraded Icefields Parkway Interchange. A twin to the existing Bow River Bridge has also been built to accommodate the new eastbound lane that will be under construction next spring. Just west of Lake Louise, landscaping of the wildlife overpass will be completed in 2011. Also, a pedestrian overpass from Harry’s Hill to Lake Louise will be tendered and built by Fall 2011.
New Icefields Parkway Interchange
© Parks Canada / A. Taylor
There will be winter construction zones in place between the Icefields Parkway Interchange and the BC border. Please obey posted speed limits.
The Final Push, Phase IIIB-3
The tender for highway twinning construction from Lake Louise to the British Columbia border was awarded in June 2010. New lane construction on this section will begin in Spring 2011. This includes construction of two new highway bridges over CPR, an expanded highway bridge over Bath Creek to accommodate wildlife and two wildlife underpasses. Completion is anticipated in Fall 2012.
Tree clearing near British Columbia border
© Parks Canada / H. Reisenleiter
Into Yoho National Park
Parks Canada is pursuing an amendment to the existing TCH Twinning 2004 EA to allow construction of a short transition zone from four lanes down to the existing two lanes within Yoho National Park. This environmental assessment (Phase IIIB) will be amended to include assessment of an additional eight kilometre segment beyond the British Columbia-Alberta border to assess cumulative impacts.
Wildlife Crossing Monitoring
Wolves were on the move in Banff National Park in November. In a two week period, images of wolves were collected at six wildlife crossings on 11 different occasions.Research and monitoring related to the wildlife crossings is supported by a partnering arrangement between the Western Transportation Institute (Montana State University), the Miistakis Institute of the Rockies, Woodcock Foundation, Wilburforce Foundation and Parks Canada.
Wolves using wildlife overpass in Banff National Park
© Parks Canada/Miistakis Institute/Western Transportation Institute
Plan your travel! Before you leave, check the Mountain Parks Road Condition Report at: 403-762-1450 (recorded message) or
www.pc.gc.ca/banff
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