Major investment into upgrading Hwy 1 between Kamloops and Alberta

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KAMLOOPS (NEWS 1130) – If you do the drive between Metro Vancouver and Calgary, you’ll know there are some scary sections through the mountain passes.

The provincial and federal governments have announced joint funding of nearly $470-million to further the upgrade project between Kamloops and the Alberta border.

Most of the cash will go to the Kicking Horse Canyon project east of Golden — a steep, windy stretch of two-lane road that Transportation Minister Todd Stone says has a fatality rate three times higher than the provincial average.

“The Trans-Canada Highway is our province’s main connection between the Pacific Gateway and the rest of Canada, and the growth of our economy and communities depends on having a strong transportation network. Thanks to our valuable partnerships with Canada, local communities and First Nations, these projects will help traffic move more safely and efficiently, communities will be better connected, and businesses can distribute their products efficiently throughout the province, as well as to our ports and borders beyond.”

Highway 1 through Kicking Horse Canyon will be realigned and expanded to four lanes with median barriers and widened shoulders. Improving this section will also require a combination of bridges, retaining walls, rock catchment ditches and other measures to reduce rock fall hazards.

The four-kilometre stretch may end up being one of the most expensive highway projects in this country at $110-million per kilometre.

“I think for those of us who travel it often, fundamentally you’re dealing with a very steep canyon on one side and a mountain on the other side. So there is a tremendous amount of blasting that’s required,” says Stone. “It’s a significantly challenging stretch of highway from a geography perspective.”

Also included in this round of cash is about 20 more kilometres of widening. That upgrade will be in from Donald to Forde Station.

But when it comes to upgrading another deadly stretch, Rogers Pass, neither Stone nor his federal counterpart could say if there’s a commitment to improve safety.

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