Golden-TCH-Summer View Of Mountains Kicking Horse Ski Hill copy
Kicking Horse Closures for Fall 2023
Major construction is underway on Hwy 1, the Trans-Canada Highway, between Golden Donald Upper Rd to Yoho Bridge (about 4 km east of Golden). They are “twinning” the highway to 2 lanes each way (plus a shoulder/bike lane) and straightening it out to improve highway speeds Work is expected to be completed sometime in 2024.
Currently one side is done, and both directions of traffic are directed onto single lanes on the eastbound new section, while the westbound lanes are being completed, including blasting, rock-scaling, and building of bridges and viaducts, as well as any protective walls to stabilize the uphill slopes.
There is always full access from the east, between Lake Louise and Field via #1, including access to the Spiral Tunnels National Historic Site (in the summer season).
Kicking Horse Canyon Highway #1 construction closures for FALL 2023 announced:
24 Hour Closures this Fall:
Trans-Canada Highway #1 EAST OF GOLDEN WILL BE CLOSED for TWO PERIODS
- Mon Sept 18 – Fri Sept 22 (5 days, noon to noon)
- Mon Sept 25 – Fri Oct 6 (12 days, noon to noon)
DETOUR AVAILABLE: Golden-Radium- Castle Junction (adding about 1.5 hours to travel times)
https://transcanadahighway.com/british-columbia/bc-highway-itinerary-golden-radium-castle-junction-detour-via-bc-95-93/
On OTHER WEEKDAYS September-November, there will be overnight closures 10 pm to 7 am
These overnight closures have limited impact on Calgary-Vancouver overnight trucker traffic since traffic leaving Calgary needs to clear Golden by 10 pm, and overnight traffic fropm Vancouver may have a coffee/breakfast stop in Golden before the highway re-opens at 7 am.
At other times, there is limited traffic closure/diversion:
10pm – 7 am Overnight Highway closure on Weekdays until 7 am
For this period the Golden-Radium-Castle Junction detour is in effect (adding about 1.5 hours to travel times)
https://transcanadahighway.com/british-columbia/bc-highway-itinerary-golden-radium-castle-junction-detour-via-bc-95-93/
7 am – 9 am Highway OPEN – no stoppages
9 am – 3 pm Highway open with some 30-minute stoppages
3 pm – 10 pm Highway OPEN – no stoppages
We will keep everyone updated.
Travel Times to Clear the Golden Kicking Horse Canyon Cnstruction before 10 PM
We get a lot of call about “will we get through the construction zone before any nightly closures?” There are travel time ESTIMATES for get to/through the construction zone efore the 10 closure time, reqiring a detour via Castle Junction and Radium (adding 1-1/2 hours to your travel time). These are estimates based on clear roads (no accidents, no other construction, no avalances or slides)
Also, ensure you have enough gas in your tank for the trip westbound to Golden, or eastbound to Canmore (best gas prices through the Rockies)!
Eastbound Travel
Donald Bridge (30 km to West) allow 1/2 hour travel, so no later than 9:30 pm (distance and travel time from WEST end of construction zone)
Revelstoke (150 km to West) allow 1.7 hours eastbound travel, so no later than 8 pm
Sicamous (222 km to West allow 2.5 hours hours eastbound travel, so no later than 7:15 pm
Westbound Travel
Lake Louise (83 km to East) allow 1 hour westbound travel , so no later than 9 pm (distance from EAST side of contruction zone)
Banff (130 km to East) allow 1:40 hours westbound travel, so no later than 8:20 pm
Canmore (150 km to East) allow 2:00 hours westbound travel, so no later than 8:00 pm
Calgary (240km to East) allow 2:40 hours westbound travel, so no later than 7:15 (at Stoney Trail & TCH /Canaada Olympic Park)
Otherwise….
Expect to take the Radium-Castle Junction Detour (and note that there is NO CELL SERVICE between Radium Hot Springs and Castle Junction.
Map of Kicking Horse Construction Zone
This map has been upodated with the names of the bridges and viaducts that are built (and almost complete). Click to zoom in.
