Alberta Highway 1
Trans-Canada Highway | ||||
Route information | ||||
Maintained by Alberta Ministry of Transportation | ||||
Length | 533.8 km[1] (331.7 mi) | |||
Existed | 1941[2]–present | |||
Major junctions | ||||
West end | Hwy 1 (TCH) at BC border | |||
East end | Hwy 1 (TCH) at SK border | |||
Location | ||||
Country | Canada | |||
Province | Alberta | |||
Specialized and rural municipalities | I.D. No. 9, Bighorn No. 8 M.D., Kananaskis I.D., Rocky View County, Wheatland County, Newell County, Cypress County | |||
Major cities | Calgary, Brooks, Chestermere, Medicine Hat | |||
Towns | Banff, Canmore, Strathmore, Bassano, Redcliff | |||
Highway system | ||||
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Alberta Provincial Highway No. 1, commonly referred to as Highway 1, is a major east–west highway in
Route description
Since Parks Canada completed the
Banff National Park
The entire segment of Highway 1 through the Banff National Park is maintained by the Government of Canada.[5] All sections of Highway 1 in the National Park have wildlife fences and crossings to keep animals off the road while still allowing for migration. The speed limit on Highway 1 in the National Park is 90 km/h (56 mph).
British Columbia Highway 1 becomes Alberta Highway 1 as it crosses Kicking Horse Pass into Alberta (the pass also marks the boundary between Yoho National Park and Banff National Park).[3] From the pass the 4 lane highway descends a moderate grade before turning southeast to follow the wide Bow River valley. Upon reaching the bottom of the hill Highway 1 crosses the Bow River for the first time. Immediately afterwards it reaches its first junction at an interchange to head north on Highway 93 (the Icefields Parkway). Highway 93 South runs concurrently with Highway 1 for the next 25 km (16 mi). Shortly after that Highway 1/93 crosses the Pipestone River and passes through another small diamond interchange at Lake Louise Drive servicing the Hamlet of Lake Louise, the Lake Louise Ski Resort, The Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A) and access to Lake Louise itself as well as Moraine Lake. From there the highway crosses the Bow River for the second time and travels along the west bank of the river passing by the Taylor Lake trailhead before reaching an important interchange for Highway 93 South (Banff-Radium Highway) which is also a midpoint access to the Bow Valley Parkway. From there the highway continues past two more at-grade trailhead turn-offs (Redearth and Bourgeau Lake) with views of the Sawback Range along the way. After passing an interchange for the Banff-Sunshine Ski Area the highway bends to the east, crosses the Bow River for a third time, and passes through a small interchange for the Bow Valley Parkway before climbing up from the river alongside a cliff with a rest area on the eastbound side giving views of Mount Rundle, the Banff townsite and the Vermilion Lakes. Shortly afterwards the highway then passes through an interchange servicing Banff and the Mt Norquay ski area. From there the highway bends to the southeast while passing through another interchange providing access to Banff and Lake Minnewanka. The highway then continues south along the benchlands above the Bow River before exiting the park 81 km (50 mi) kilometres from the BC border.
Canmore to Calgary
Upon exiting Banff National Park, Highway 1 is maintained by
Shortly after leaving Banff Park the highway passes through the Hamlet of
16th Avenue
In Calgary, Highway 1 follows 16 Avenue N and is maintained by the City of Calgary for its 27 km (17 mi) length. Plans for a crosstown Highway 1 Freeway were cancelled decades ago, leaving the city section of Highway 1 as primarily an urban arterial road.
After the Interchange with Stoney Trail, 16th Avenue continues as a freeway passing through an interchange with Canada Olympic Drive and Sarcee Trail before crossing the Bow River for the fifth and final time entering the neighbourhood of Montgomery. There, the freeway ends, and the speed limit drops to 50 km/h (31 mph) with 16th Avenue becoming a 4-lane "urban boulevard" (as defined by the City of Calgary) with multiple signal lights.[9] After exiting Montgomery, 16th Avenue begins short 4-lane expressway section with some small interchanges at Shaganappi Trail, West Campus Way, University Drive and Crowchild Trail (as well as a signalized interchange at 29th Street) as it passes by the Foothills Medical Centre and McMahon Stadium. It then enters central Calgary and becomes a heavily developed, 6-lane urban boulevard once again passing through 21 signal lights before reaching Deerfoot Trail (Highway 2) where it crosses the major freeway on a split diamond interchange featuring more signal lights on 16th Avenue. In East Calgary the highway becomes a 4-lane expressway once again passing through three interchanges (Barlow Trail, 36th Street, and 52nd Street) and two signal lights (19th Street and 68th Street) before City of Calgary authority ends and Highway 1 enters an Alberta Transportation maintained free-flowing interchange with Stoney Trail (Highway 201) at the edge of the city.
Calgary to Saskatchewan
Upon exiting Calgary, Highway 1 is maintained by Alberta Transportation for 273 km (170 mi) until it reaches the City of Medicine Hat.[6][7] This segment of the highway generally travels in a southeast direction through the rural municipalities of Rocky View County, Wheatland County, the County of Newell, and Cypress County.[8] The speed limit on the highway east of Calgary is mostly 110 km/h (68 mph) except in Medicine Hat and Strathmore.
Upon exiting Calgary the highway becomes a rural expressway with at-grade intersections and limited interchanges. Shortly after leaving Calgary the highway enters the City of Chestermere and passes through an interchange at Chestermere Boulevard (formerly Highway 1A).[6] From there Highway 1 goes straight east through flat terrain with the only major junctions being an interchange for Highway 9 and at grade intersections for Highway 791 and Highway 24. It then enters the town of Strathmore (which features a 50 km/h (31 mph) speed limit and several signal lights) marking the limit of most Calgary commuter traffic. From there on east to Medicine Hat the highway is flat and has few corners. There are no significant communities along this long section of highway except for Bassano, Brooks, and Suffield, and no interchanges except at two junctions in Brooks. The only noteworthy junctions on this stretch of Highway 1 are at Highway 56 and Highway 36 (both at grade).
Within Medicine Hat, Highway 1 is a controlled access highway with 6 interchanges.[7] The majority of the highway in the city is a freeway; however, a section between the South Saskatchewan River and Seven Persons Creek still has a few at-grade intersections. The length of Highway 1 within Medicine Hat is 13 km (8 mi).[6]
East of Medicine Hat, Highway 1 is maintained by Alberta Transportation for 48 km (30 mi) until it enters the Province of Saskatchewan,[6][7] continuing as Saskatchewan Highway 1.[3] This segment of the highway generally travels in an east direction through Cypress County.[8] For urban communities, this segment passes through the Hamlet of Dunmore and by the hamlets of Irvine and Walsh.[6] Highway 41 (which has a short concurrency with Highway 1) is the only noteworthy junction east of Medicine Hat.
History
A review of historical Alberta Official Road Maps shows that Highway 1 was numbered Highway 2 prior to 1941 (while Highway 2 as it is known today was numbered Highway 1 prior to 1941).[2]
Exit numbering along Highway 1 began in 2005.[10][11] As of March 2010, only the stretch of Highway 1 between Banff National Park and Calgary had been assigned exit numbers.[6]
Between 1964 and 1972, a completely new route from Calgary to Canmore was built. The route included new overpasses, bridges, the Canmore Bypass, and a 4-lane divided highway. In 1976, Parks Canada began twinning Highway 1 through Banff National Park, with the highway twinned to Banff by 1985 and to Castle Junction by 1997.[12] Twinning of the 33.5 km (20.8 mi) section between Castle Junction and the British Columbia border was completed in 2014,[12] with the final 8.5 km (5.3 mi) of Highway 1 between Lake Louise and the British Columbia border opening to traffic on June 12 of that year.[13] Between 1973 and 1990 the highway was twinned from Calgary to the Saskatchewan Border.
Future
Alberta Transportation has long-term, conceptual plans for Highway 1 to have a phased upgrade to a freeway standard within its area of jurisdiction (outside Banff National Park and Calgary city limits). Currently, areas that have been studied are a proposed interchange located between Garden Road and Conrich Road,[14] Rainbow Road near Chestermere,[15] and Highway 36 near Brooks.[16] There is not timeline for construction of these interchanges.
Strathmore
Alberta Transportation has plans for a bypass around the Town of Strathmore.
Medicine Hat
The Trans-Canada Highway has a few remaining signalized intersections within Medicine Hat, and Alberta Transportation is studying both a long-term realignment of Highway 1, as well as possible upgrades to the existing alignment. The realignment would bypass Redcliff, Medicine Hat and Dunmore to the south, bypassing approximately 33 kilometres (21 mi) of existing Highway 1,[1][19] and the right-of-way is also currently designated as Highway 1X.[6] Possible upgrades to the existing alignment include a new interchange at 1 Street SW and intersection closures at 6 Street SW and 16 Street SW.[20][21] There is no timeline for the bypass construction or any upgrades to the existing alignment.
Major intersections
specialized municipality | Location | km[1] | mi | Exit[6] | Destinations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Continental Divide; continues into British Columbia and Yoho National Park ; west end of freeway | ||||||
Kicking Horse Pass – 1,627 m (5,338 ft) | ||||||
6.7 | 4.2 | (7) | Rocky Mountain House | West end of Hwy 93 concurrency; tolled, National Park Pass required | ||
Lake Louise | 9.3 | 5.8 | (10) | Hwy 1A east (Bow Valley Parkway) / Lake Louise Drive west | ||
Castle Junction | 34.7 | 21.6 | (35) | Hwy 93 south (Banff–Windermere Highway) – Kootenay National Park, Radium Hot Springs To Hwy 1A (Bow Valley Parkway) | East end of Hwy 93 concurrency | |
| 56.7 | 35.2 | (56) | Sunshine Road | Access to Sunshine Village | |
58.8 | 36.5 | (59) | Hwy 1A west (Bow Valley Parkway) | Seasonal travel restrictions[22] | ||
Mount Norquay ski resort | ||||||
66.5 | 41.3 | (67) | Industrial area (Compound Road) | Eastbound right-in/right-out | ||
68.6 | 42.6 | (69) | Banff (Banff Avenue), Lake Minnewanka, Tunnel Mountain | |||
| 81.4 | 50.6 | Banff National Park East Gate | |||
Harvie Heights | 82.6– 83.8 | 51.3– 52.1 | 83 | Harvie Heights | No eastbound entrance | |
Canmore | 85.3 | 53.0 | 86 | Bow Valley Trail | Former Hwy 1A east | |
85.8 | 53.3 | (87) | Mountain Avenue | Eastbound exit and entrance | ||
88.2 | 54.8 | 89 | Town Centre (Palliser Trail, Benchlands Trail) | |||
90.1 | 56.0 | 91 | Bow Valley Trail ( Exshaw | |||
92.6 | 57.5 | 93 | Three Sisters Parkway ( Hwy 742 south) | |||
Dead Man's Flats | 97.2 | 60.4 | 98 | Dead Man's Flats | ||
| 104.5 | 64.9 | 105 | Lac des Arcs | Interchange | |
Exshaw | Westbound signed as exits 114 (north) and 114A (south) | |||||
Kananaskis Village | ||||||
123.8 | 76.9 | 124 | No name exit | |||
Mînî Thnî | 130.7 | 81.2 | 131 | Mînî Thnî Road (Hwy 133X north) | ||
| 136.2 | 84.6 | 137 | Bear Hill Road | ||
M.D. of Bighorn No. 8 | | 140.1 | 87.1 | Scott Lake Hill – 1,410 m (4,630 ft) | ||
Rocky View County | | 142.6 | 88.6 | 143 | Hwy 68 south (Sibbald Creek Trail) | |
155.0 | 96.3 | 156 | Jumping Pound Road | |||
159.8 | 99.3 | 161 | Bragg Creek | |||
Springbank Airport | ||||||
| 171.2 | 106.4 | 172 | Old Banff Coach Road (Hwy 563 east) | ||
Calgary | 175.0 | 108.7 | 176 | Valley Ridge Boulevard / Crestmont Boulevard | ||
176.2 | 109.5 | 177 | Stoney Trail (Hwy 201) – Edmonton, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge | Hwy 201 exit 36 | ||
177.8 | 110.5 | 179 | Canada Olympic Drive / Bowfort Road | Access to Canada Olympic Park | ||
179.3 | 111.4 | (180) | Sarcee Trail / 34 Avenue NW | East end of freeway | ||
180.2 | 112.0 | Crosses the Bow River | ||||
182.6 | 113.5 | Shaganappi Trail / Memorial Drive / Bowness Road | Interchange | |||
183.1 | 113.8 | West Campus Boulevard – Alberta Children's Hospital | Interchange | |||
184.1 | 114.4 | 29 Street NW / Uxbridge Drive – Foothills Medical Centre | ||||
184.6– 184.9 | 114.7– 114.9 | University Drive / Crowchild Trail (Hwy 1A west) | Interchange; no westbound exit to northbound Crowchild Trail; access to McMahon Stadium and University of Calgary; west end of former Hwy 1A concurrency | |||
185.3 | 115.1 | Banff Trail | Westbound access to northbound Crowchild Trail | |||
186.5 | 115.9 | 14 Street NW – City Centre | Former Hwy 1A east; east end of former Hwy 1A concurrency | |||
187.2 | 116.3 | 10 Street NW | ||||
188.8 | 117.3 | Centre Street N – City Centre | ||||
189.2 | 117.6 | Edmonton Trail | ||||
191.2 | 118.8 | Fort Macleod | Hwy 2 exit 258 | |||
192.2 | 119.4 | 19 Street NE | Interchange proposed (no construction timeline)[23] | |||
193.0 | 119.9 | — | Barlow Trail | Interchange; former Hwy 2A | ||
194.4 | 120.8 | — | 36 Street NE | Interchange | ||
196.0 | 121.8 | — | 52 Street NE | Interchange | ||
197.7 | 122.8 | 68 Street NE | ||||
198.7 | 123.5 | — | Stoney Trail (Hwy 201) – Edmonton, Banff, Lethbridge | Interchange; Hwy 201 exit 78 | ||
Rocky View County | | 202.0 | 125.5 | Garden Road (100 Street NE) | ||
Chestermere | 208.4 | 129.5 | — | Chestermere Boulevard | Interchange; former Hwy 1A | |
Hwy 791 (Range Road 280) – Indus | ||||||
218.8 | 136.0 | — | Drumheller, Langdon | Interchange | ||
Wheatland County | | 228.6 | 142.0 | Hwy 24 south – Cheadle, Lethbridge | ||
Carseland | ||||||
239.9 | 149.1 | George Freeman Trail | ||||
| 248.1 | 154.2 | Drumheller | |||
260.5 | 161.9 | |||||
Hwy 547 south – Siksika Nation, Arrowwood | ||||||
282.3 | 175.4 | Hwy 901 west – Siksika Nation | ||||
| 292.1 | 181.5 | ||||
308.1 | 191.4 | Drumheller, Crowfoot Ferry | ||||
Newell County | Bassano | 325.1 | 202.0 | 11th Street | Eastbound exit only | |
326.4 | 202.8 | 6th Avenue | Former Hwy 847 | |||
| 330.1 | 205.1 | Hwy 550 east / Township Road 212 west – Rosemary, Bassano | |||
364.2 | 226.3 | Hwy 36 (Veterans Memorial Highway) – Hanna, Vauxhall, Taber | ||||
Brooks | 372.6 | 231.5 | — | 2nd Street W (Hwy 873) – Duchess | Interchange | |
375.8 | 233.5 | — | Cassils Road ( Hwy 542 west) | Interchange | ||
| 385.0 | 239.2 | Hwy 875 south – Rolling Hills | |||
393.4 | 244.4 | |||||
Cypress County | Suffield | 438.6 | 272.5 | Hwy 884 north – CFB Suffield, Ralston, Jenner | ||
| 465.2 | 289.1 | Hwy 524 west – Hays, Rolling Hills | |||
Redcliff | 471.0 | 292.7 | Mitchell Street | |||
471.9 | 293.2 | Broadway Avenue | ||||
Medicine Hat | 472.9 | 293.8 | Boundary Road | |||
475.2 | 295.3 | — | Box Springs Road | Interchange | ||
476.5 | 296.1 | 3 Street NW | Interchange | |||
477.1 | 296.5 | Crosses the South Saskatchewan River | ||||
477.7 | 296.8 | 1 Street SW | At-grade, uncontrolled; interchange proposed[20][21] | |||
478.6 | 297.4 | 6 Street SW / 7 Street SW | Traffic signals; proposed intersection closure[20][21] | |||
479.1 | 297.7 | — | Lethbridge, City Centre | Interchange; access to Medicine Hat Airport | ||
479.7 | 298.1 | 16 Street SW | Traffic signals; proposed intersection closure[20][21] | |||
481.5 | 299.2 | — | College Avenue / South Ridge Drive | Interchange | ||
483.0 | 300.1 | — | 13 Avenue SE | Interchange | ||
484.5 | 301.1 | — | Dunmore Road / South Boundary Road | Interchange | ||
Cypress County | Dunmore | 491.4 | 305.3 | Eagle Butte Road | ||
| 493.0 | 306.3 | Oyen | West end of Hwy 41 concurrency | ||
509.0 | 316.3 | Hwy 41 south (Buffalo Trail) – Elkwater, Havre | East end of Hwy 41 concurrency; access to Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park | |||
Irvine | 513.5 | 319.1 | ||||
Walsh | 530.6 | 329.7 | ||||
| 533.8 | 331.7 | Swift Current, Regina | Continues into Saskatchewan | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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See also
References
- ^ a b c d Google (October 18, 2017). "Highway 1 in Alberta" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
- ^ a b Department of Public Works (1939). "Highway Map of Province of Alberta Canada" (PDF). Retrieved April 14, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Alberta Official Road Map (Map) (2011 ed.). Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation. § L–3, L-4, L–5, L–6, M–6, M–7, M–8, and N–8.
- ^ "National Highway System". Transport Canada. December 13, 2009. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "The Trans-Canada Highway". Transport Canada. December 13, 2009. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Provincial Highway 1-216 Progress Chart" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. March 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "August 2009 Contract Maintenance of Provincial Highways" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. May 28, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Alberta Provincial Highway Projects". Alberta Transportation. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ^ "Calgary Transportation Plan" (PDF). City of Calgary. 2020.
- ^ "Exit Numbering – Recommended Practices" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. November 2004. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ "TSB Newsletter – Volume 4, Issue 1" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. March 2005. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
- ^ a b "Trans-Canada Highway Twinning Project: Phase IVB | Fact Sheet" (PDF). Parks Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
- ^ Schmidt, Colleen (June 13, 2014). "Crews complete twinning of Trans-Canada through Banff National Park". CTV News. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
- ^ McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd. (November 22, 2010). "Highway 1 Interchange at Garden/Conrich Road | Recommended Plan" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. Government of Alberta. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
- ^ AECOM (April 2008). "Highway 1 at Rainbow Road Functional Planning Study | Recommended Interchange Configuration and Rainbow Road Alignment" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. Government of Alberta. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
- ^ UMA Engineering Ltd. (September 2007). "Highway 1 and Highway 36 Interchange Functional Planning Study" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. Government of Alberta. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
- ^ a b McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd. (November 2013). "Highway 1 Functional Planning Study (Highway 842 to Highway 797) | Executive Summary" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. Government of Alberta. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
- ^ "Open House #2 – Highway 1 Alignment and Area Network, Highway 842 to Highway 797 Planning Study" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. June 21, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
- ^ "Highway 1 & 3 Functional Planning Study – Medicine Hat | Overview of Bypass Plan" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. Stantec. June 8, 2009. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Highways 1 & 3 Existing Route Improvements: Highway 1 – 1 Street to 16 Street (Option 1 Revised)" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. Stantec. April 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Highways 1 & 3 Existing Route Improvements: Highway 1 – 1 Street to 16 Street (Option 2)" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. Stantec. April 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
- ^ "Bow Valley Parkway Seasonal Travel Restriction - Banff National Park". Parks Canada. Government of Canada. April 1, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
- ^ "16 Avenue N.E. Functional Planning Study – Deerfoot Trail to Barlow Trail". Transportation Planning. City of Calgary. April 2, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
External links
- Media related to Alberta Highway 1 at Wikimedia Commons