Alberta Highway 1

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Alberta Highway 1 shield

Highway 1
Trans-Canada Highway
<mapframe width="290" latitude="50.632" align="center" frameless="1" longitude="-113.082" height="290" zoom="5">{{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Alberta Highway 1}}</mapframe>
Highway 1 highlighted in red
Route information
Length: 533.8 km[2] (331.7 mi)
Existed: 1941[1] – present
Major junctions
West end: BC 1 at BC border
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East end: Hwy 1 (TCH) at SK border
Location
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
Provincial highways in Alberta
← Hwy 986 Hwy 1A →

Alberta Provincial Highway No. 1, commonly referred to as Highway 1, is a major east–west highway in Southern Alberta that forms the southern mainline of the Trans-Canada Highway. It runs from the British Columbia border near Lake Louise through Calgary to the Saskatchewan border east of Medicine Hat. It continues as Highway 1 into both provinces. It spans approximately 534 km (332 mi) from Alberta's border with British Columbia in the west to its border with Saskatchewan in the east.[3] The route is a divided 4-lane expressway throughout the province with the exception of a section in central Calgary where it is an arterial thoroughfare and Urban Boulevard carrying 4 to 6 lanes. The highway is a freeway between the Sunshine exit near the town of Banff and Home Road in Calgary. Other rural sections have at grade intersections with Interchanges only at busier junctions. Twinning of the final 8.5 km (5.3 mi) of Highway 1 between Lake Louise and the British Columbia border was completed by Parks Canada and opened to traffic on June 12, 2014 making the whole length of Alberta Highway 1 a divided minimum 4-lane route.[3]

Route description

File:TC Hwy Rockies.JPG
Westbound to the Rocky Mountains
File:Transcanada highway, Canmore, Alberta.jpg
Eastbound near Canmore

Highway 1 is designated as a core route in Canada's National Highway System[4] and is a core part of the developing Alberta Freeway Network.

British Columbia border to Calgary

File:Wildlife Crossing in Banff National Park.jpg
Wildlife overpass on eastbound Alberta Highway 1 in Banff National Park

British Columbia Highway 1 becomes Alberta Highway 1 as it crosses Kicking Horse Pass into Alberta.[3] It generally travels southeast along the wide Bow River valley through Banff National Park (Improvement District No. 9) crossing the Bow River three times. After descent from the pass with views of Mount Temple it crosses the Bow River. Its first junction is an interchange with Highway 93 north (the Icefields Parkway), which runs concurrent with Highway 1 for the next 25 km (16 mi). Shortly after that Highway 1/93 crosses the Pipestone River passes through a single interchange servicing the Hamlet of Lake Louise, the Lake Louise Ski Resort and access to Lake Louise itself as well as Moraine Lake. From there the highway crosses the Bow River and travels along the west bank of the river passing by several trailheads until reaching the interchange for Highway 93 south (Banff–Radium Highway) which contributes significant eastbound traffic and is also a midpoint access to the Bow Valley Parkway. From there the highway continues past several more trailheads turn-offs (all at grade) with views of the Sawback Range. After passing an interchange for the Banff Sunshine Ski Area the highway bends to the east and approaches the town of Banff. The highway climbs up from the river and scales the side of a cliff above the town. A pullout at the top of the climb allows visitors to overlook Town of Banff,[5]Vermilion Lakes and Mount Rundle. The highway then passes two interchanges servicing Banff and surrounding attractions. From there the highway bends to the southeast and leaves the park. The entire segment of Highway 1 through the national park is maintained by the Government of Canada,[6] all sections of Banff Park highway have wildlife fences and overpasses to keep animals off the road. The speed limit on most park sections is 90 km/h (56 mph).

Upon exiting Banff National Park, Highway 1 is maintained by Alberta Transportation for 91 km (57 mi) until it reaches Calgary.[5][7] This segment of the highway travels generally east through the rural municipalities of the Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8 and Rocky View County, It also briefly crosses a portion of Kananaskis Improvement District.[8] Shortly after leaving Banff Park the highway passes through the Hamlet of Harvie Heights and the mountain town of Canmore which is serviced by four interchanges. Since many people from Canmore commute to Calgary weekly, traffic levels pick up after passing the town. From there the highway travels by the hamlets of Dead Man's Flats and Lac des Arcs each serviced by its own interchange. A rest area on the shore of Lac des Arcs provides access to the water. From there the highway exits the mountains passing the interchange for Highway 1X, a 1 km (0.62 mi) connection to Highway 1A and access to Bow Valley Provincial Park. It then crosses the Kananaskis River and enters the Morley Reserve and passes the interchange for Alberta Highway 40, the main access to Kananaskis Country. From there the highway passes across the Morley Reserve and climbs a hill to a highpoint at Jack Lake Summit before descending to the prairies. From there it continues due east across level terrain and agricultural lands. As it approaches Calgary the highway passes an interchange at Highway 22 servicing the town of Cochrane and Bragg Creek,[5] where traffic volumes double. Traffic continues to pick up as it passes through the Springbank semi-rural area until it arrives at the edge of Calgary itself. The speed limit on most Alberta Transportation–maintained segments of Highway 1 is 110 km/h (68 mph). Highway 1A, the original Highway 1 from Canmore to Calgary, is an alternate route to this segment of Highway 1, providing access to the Hamlet of Exshaw, the Summer Village of Ghost Lake, and the Town of Cochrane.[5]

Calgary

File:TransCanada highway over the Kananaskis river (21487806621).jpg
Highway 1 and 1X interchange and with crossing of the Kananaskis River visible.

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Main article: 16 Avenue N

In Calgary, Highway 1 is 16 Avenue N and maintained by the City of Calgary. Plans for a crosstown Highway 1 freeway were cancelled decades ago, leaving the city section of Highway 1 as primarily an urban arterial road, particularly in the Montgomery area and between Crowchild Trail and Deerfoot Trail (connected by a short limited-access section). The latter section features 21 signal lights and the speed limit in both urban sections is 50 km/h (31 mph).[3] Stoney Trail (Highway 201) provides an alternate controlled-access freeway route around the north side of the city and is the signed bypass of 16 Avenue. Despite being a longer distance, Highway 201 generally takes less time. Using Sarcee Trail, Glenmore Trail and Deerfoot Trails to access Highway 22X E which connects back to Highway 1 near Gleichen is another bypass of 16 Avenue and is commonly used by truckers to get through the city. It is shorter and faster than Stoney or 16th Avenue most times of the day, however it involves travels on freeways that are sometimes congested during rush hour. The length of Highway 1 (16 Avenue) within Calgary is 27 km (17 mi).

Calgary to Saskatchewan border

Upon exiting Calgary, Highway 1 is maintained by Alberta Transportation for 273 km (170 mi) until it reaches the City of Medicine Hat.[5][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] For urban communities, this segment passes through the City of Chestermere and the Town of Strathmore, by the Town of Bassano, the City of Brooks, and the Hamlet of Suffield, and through the Town of Redcliff.[5] Chestermere Boulevard (formerly Highway 1A), the original Highway 1 from Calgary to Chestermere, is an alternate route to initial portion of this segment of Highway 1.[5]

Within Medicine Hat, Highway 1 is a controlled access highway with maintained by Alberta Transportation.[7] The majority of the highway 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).[5] East of Medicine Hat, Highway 1 is maintained by Alberta Transportation for 48 km (30 mi) until it enters the Province of Saskatchewan,[5][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.[5] The speed limit on the highway east of Calgary is 110 km/h (68 mph) except in some urbanized areas.

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).[1]

Exit numbering along Highway 1 began in 2005.[9][10] As of March 2010, only the stretch of Highway 1 between Banff National Park and Calgary had been assigned exit numbers.[5]

Between 1964 and 1972, a completely new route from Calgary to Canmore was built. The route included new overpasses, bridges, the Canmore Bypass, and 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.[11] Twinning of the 33.5 km (20.8 mi) section between Castle Junction and the British Columbia border was completed in 2014,[11] 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.[12] 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,[13] Rainbow Road near Chestermere,[14] and Highway 36 near Brooks.[15] There is not timeline for construction of these interchanges.

Strathmore

Alberta Transportation has plans for a bypass around the Town of Strathmore.[16] Initial proposals included a realignment northwest of Gleichen, continuing west to run south of Eagle Lake and then continuing northwest where it will rejoined the existing alignment near Cheadle, between Highway 24 and Strathmore, as well as a link to the Highway 22X corridor.[17] The final proposal is a more scaled back realignment around Strathmore to the south, bypassing approximately 8 kilometres (5 mi) of existing Highway 1,[2][16] and the right-of-way is currently designated as Highway 1X.[5] There is no timeline for construction.

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,[2][18] and the right-of-way is also currently designated as Highway 1X.[5] 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.[19][20] There is no timeline for the bypass construction or any upgrades to the existing alignment.

Major intersections

Rural/specialized municipality Location km[2] mi Exit[5] Destinations Notes
I.D. No. 9
(Banff National Park)		 ​ 0.0 0.0 BC 1 west – Field, Golden, Kamloops Continental Divide; continues into British Columbia and Yoho National Park
Kicking Horse Pass – 1,627 m (5,338 ft)
5.9 3.7 Crosses the Bow River
6.7 4.2 (7) Hwy 93 north (Icefields Parkway) – Jasper, Rocky Mountain House Interchange; west end of Hwy 93 concurrency
Lake Louise 9.3 5.8 (10) Hwy 1A east (Bow Valley Parkway) / Invalid type: road Interchange
​ 12.3 7.6 Crosses the Bow River
34.7 21.6 (35) Hwy 93 south – Kootenay N.P., Radium Hot Springs
To Hwy 1A (Bow Valley Parkway) – Castle Mountain		 Interchange; east end of Hwy 93 concurrency
56.7 35.2 (56) Sunshine Road – Sunshine Village Interchange
58.7 36.5 Crosses the Bow River
58.8 36.5 (59) Hwy 1A west (Bow Valley Parkway) Interchange; seasonal travel restrictions[21]
Banff 64.5 40.1 (65) Mount Norquay Road Interchange
66.5 41.3 (67) Industrial area (Compound Road) Eastbound right-in/right-out
68.6 42.6 (69) Banff Avenue Interchange
​ 81.4 50.6 East gate of Banff National Park
M.D. of Bighorn No. 8 Harvie Heights 82.6 51.3 83 Harvie Heights Road Interchange; no eastbound entrance
Canmore 85.3 53.0 86 Bow Valley Trail – Harvie Heights Interchange; former Hwy 1A
85.8 53.3 (87) Mountain Avenue Eastbound exit and entrance
88.2 54.8 89 Town Centre (Palliser Trail, Benchlands Trail) Interchange
90.1 56.0 91 Bow Valley Trail (Hwy 1A east) – Exshaw, Cochrane Interchange
91.5 56.9 Crosses the Bow River
92.6 57.5 93 Three Sisters Parkway (Hwy 742 south) Interchange
​ 97.2 60.4 98 Dead Man's Flats Interchange
104.5 64.9 105 Lac des Arcs Interchange
Kananaskis I.D. Bow Valley
Provincial Park		 113.2 70.3 114 Hwy 1X north / Invalid type: road – Seebe, Exshaw Interchange
Stoney Nos. 142, 143, and 144
(Stoney-Nakoda First Nation)		 ​ 117.3 72.9 118 Hwy 40 south (Kananaskis Trail) – Kananaskis Country, Kananaskis Village Interchange
123.8 76.9 124 unnamed road Interchange
Morley 130.7 81.2 131 Morley Road Interchange
​ 136.2 84.6 137 Bear Hill Road Interchange
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) Interchange
155.0 96.3 156 Jumping Pound Road Interchange
159.8 99.3 161 Hwy 22 (Cowboy Trail) – Cochrane, Redwood Meadows, Bragg Creek Interchange
Springbank 168.0 104.4 169 Range Road 33 – Calaway Park Interchange
​ 171.2 106.4 172 Old Banff Coach Road (Hwy 563 east) Interchange
City of Calgary 175.0 108.7 (176) Valley Ridge Boulevard / Crestmont Boulevard Interchange
176.2 109.5 177 Stoney Trail (Hwy 201 north) – Edmonton, Medicine Hat Interchange; Hwy 201 exit 36; Hwy 201 south under construction
177.8 110.5 (179) Canada Olympic Drive / Bowfort Road – Canada Olympic Park Interchange
179.3 111.4 (180) Sarcee Trail / 34 Avenue NW Interchange
Freeway ends
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		 Crowchild Trail (Hwy 1A west) /  – McMahon Stadium, University of Calgary Interchange; direct westbound Hwy 1 to northbound Crowchild Trail ramp under construction[22]
185.3 115.1 Banff Trail to Crowchild Trail north (Hwy 1A west)
186.5 115.9 14 Street NW – City Centre Former Hwy 1A east
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 Deerfoot Trail (Hwy 2) – Airport, Red Deer, 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) Traffic signals
City of Chestermere 208.4 129.5 — Chestermere Boulevard Interchange; former Hwy 1A
Rocky View County ​ 212.3 131.9 Hwy 791 (Range Road 280) – Indus
218.8 136.0 — Hwy 9 north – Drumheller, Saskatoon
Hwy 797 south – Langdon		 Interchange
Wheatland County ​ 228.6 142.0 Hwy 24 south – Cheadle, Lethbridge
Strathmore 238.3 148.1 Wheatland Trail (Hwy 817) – Carseland
239.9 149.1 George Freeman Trail
​ 248.1 154.2 Hwy 21 north – Rockyford, Three Hills, Drumheller
260.5 161.9 Hwy 561 east – Standard, Hussar, Rosebud
Gleichen 277.9 172.7 Hwy 547 south – Siksika Nation, Arrowwood
282.3 175.4 Hwy 901 west – Siksika Nation
​ 292.1 181.5 Hwy 842 – Chancellor, Cluny, Milo
308.1 191.4 Hwy 56 north – Hussar, 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 – 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 Hwy 876 – Tilley, Patricia
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
City of 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[19][20]
478.6 297.4 6 Street SW / 7 Street SW Traffic signals; proposed intersection closure[19][20]
479.1 297.7 — Gershaw Drive (Crowsnest Highway) (Hwy 3 west / Hwy 41A east) – Lethbridge Interchange
479.7 298.1 16 Street SW Traffic signals; proposed intersection closure[19][20]
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 Hwy 41 north (Buffalo Trail) – 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 Hwy 1 (TCH) east – Swift Current, Regina Continues into Saskatchewan
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

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  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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  • Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons
Preceded by Trans-Canada Highway
Highway 1		 Succeeded by
SK Highway 1
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