$121-million Trans-Canada Highway upgrade coming to Glacier National Park

More upgrades are coming to the Trans-Canada Highway in the BC Interior, the provincial government announced today.

A 4.4-km-long stretch of the highway route between Glacier National Park and Golden will be improved, with the roadway widened from two lanes to four lanes and the aging Quartz Creek Bridge replaced with a new four-lane structure.

See also

• $469-million upgrade for Trans-Canada Highway at Kicking Horse Canyon
• $236-million project to add 2 lanes to Trans-Canada Highway in Langley
• 16 digital signs displaying traffic flow warnings installed on the North Shore
• $198 million project to tackle Highway 1 congestion in North Vancouver

Other improvements in the area will include access roads near the Quartz Creek Bridge to reduce vehicle congestion and a new bridge to replace the Wiseman Creek Culvert, which will create a safe crossing for wildlife.

When the $121-million upgrade project is complete, this span of Highway 1 will see a design allowing for improved traffic flow and increased driver safety.

The Trans-Canada Highway through Glacier National Park near Golden, BC. (Government of BC)

“This section of Highway 1 has seen a number of serious collisions over the years, and these improvements will make a big difference to safety,” said Claire Trevena, BC Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, in a statement.

“Widening the highway and replacing the current two-lane Quartz Creek Bridge with a four-lane structure will also improve efficiency for commercial drivers.”

The provincial government is contributing $71.5 million towards the project, while the federal government is providing $49.9 million. It will be built under the provincial government’s community benefits agreement requiring union wages.

These improvements west of Golden are in addition to the other Highway 1 upgrades being made east of Golden through Kicking Horse Canyon at a cost of $469 million. Construction on improvements east of Golden began in 2017 are a set for completion in 2024.