Highway 1 in Kicking Horse Canyon closed until Dec. 1
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A section of the Trans-Canada Highway through Kicking Horse Canyon has closed for upgrades that can’t be done safely while regular traffic uses the road.
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Highway 1 between Golden and Castle Junction closed on Monday and will remain shut off to all but permit-only traffic until Dec. 1. It will add as much as 90 minutes to travel times through the corridor.
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The highway will reopen for the Thanksgiving holiday from noon on Oct. 7 until noon on Oct. 11.
After a busy season of summer construction on the highway upgrade, it needs to be shut down for much of the fall for complex work that frequently requires heavy equipment to take over the highway.
Destinations between Castle Junction and the construction zone, such as Lake Louise and Field, BC, will be accessible from the east during the closure.
Drivers should expect congestion and delays on the alternate routes — highways 93S and 95 — during the closure. Choosing to drive during off-peak times is encouraged.
The construction zone will open briefly to limited local and commuter traffic. Drivers must get prearranged permits and will be escorted through by a pilot vehicle during half-hour periods from 7 am to 4:30 pm
The upgrade to the 4.8-kilometer stretch is expected to be completed in winter 2023-24. It will expand the corridor to a modern, four-lane standard to make it safer and more reliable.
Check DriveBC.ca for updates.