The overall status of the highways in BC is good, with significant portions of the route of the #1 Trans-Canada between Victoria and Alberta border twinned. The Vancouver Island sections outside of Victoria’s Inner Harbour are twinned. The Fraser Valley portion of the #1 has long had the Coquihalla Hihgway #5 as a high-speed option.

Importantly, the section between Kamloops and the Alberta border a long-term priority for the BC Government. They have been improving the level sections of highway with passing lanes (where space-constrained by nature) or full-out twinning, and replacing two-lane bridges with 4 lane ones in anticipation of roadway upgrades.

New & Improved!

The 4 km Kicking Horse Canyon section east of Golden (so curvy and steep it has a 40 km/h speed limit) has been replaced with a 4-lane divided highway as of Novermber 2023. as a result of a 4 year engineering and construction project that cost $450 million to replace this 3 km section of roadway.

View of the Rogers Pass

While the Mountain Parks are a federal responsibility, and preliminary work underway in Yoho, Glacier, and Revelstoke National Parks, taking advantage of lessons learned in Banff National Park, in terms of route selection, as well as nature and wildlife mitigation. This work includes wide animal bridges to provide overpasses for the wildlife, and reducing vehicle-animal collisons.

Here are some history notes, organized by Itinerary Segment (from west to east):

Highway Construction-road widening-sliver
Highway Construction-road widening-sliver

British Columbia Trans-Canada History, Route, Towns, and Cities Map

Here is a map of the Trans Canada Highway and towns along or near the route:

Cities along the Trans Canada Highway
City

Town along the Trans Canada Highway
Town

History of the Trans Canada HighwayHistory of the Yellowhead Route of the Trans Canada HighwayHistory of the Crowsnest Route of the Trans Canada Highway
Itinerary

Transcanada Highway History
History

Trans Canada Highway Ferries
Ferry

Trans Canada Highway Tours & Detours
Tour