Province moves ahead with plan to close Trans-Canada near Golden for month | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Province moves ahead with plan to close Trans-Canada near Golden for month

People travelling along the Trans-Canada Highway through Golden will soon see more crews working to convert the last 4.8 kilometres of narrow, winding two-lane road to a modern four-lane standard. The work will improve the highway through Kicking Horse Canyon.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Province of B.C.

Construction on the Trans-Canada near Golden to expand the highway from two lanes to four, which will close the route for a month this spring, is moving forward despite the pandemic.

The work will improve the safety, capacity and reliability of the highway through the Kicking Horse Canyon, according to a Ministry of Transportation press release issued today, Jan. 15.

Work on Phase 4 of the Kicking Horse Canyon construction project will require a month-long closure of Highway 1 just east of Golden this spring. This closure will allow crews to proceed with work that cannot be carried out safely during shorter interruptions, such as major excavation, piling and hauling, the ministry said.

The closure will run from April 12 to May 14 and traffic on Highway 1 from Golden to Castle Junction will be re-routed via Highways 93 and 95, which will add up to 1.5 extra hours of travel time. Roadside signage will provide advance notification of the closure and alternative routes will also have signage.

Construction of the fourth and final phase is to complete the remaining 4.8 kilometres of the project and is expected to be finished by the winter of 2023-24.

The construction zone will be opened briefly to local and commuter traffic twice daily, escorted by a pilot vehicle during one half-hour period beginning at 7 a.m. and one half-hour period beginning at 4:30 p.m. Similar escorts will be provided for school buses so students will have uninterrupted access to school. Emergency vehicles in response mode will be provided escorted passage on short notice.

Provincial construction sites have protocols and policies in place following the requirements of the provincial health officer to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. These measures include physical distancing and other protocols to ensure worker and public safety, according to the province.

The total project cost for the last phase of the project is an estimated at $601 million. The project is cost-shared between the province and Government of Canada which is contributing $215 million.


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