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| Original News Release |
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| Original News Release |
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The Kicking Horse Pass is located on the Trans-Canada Highway and extends 80-kilometres through the Rocky Mountains between Golden, British Columbia and Lake Louise, Alberta. The 25 kilometres between Golden and the west boundary of Yoho National Park (Canyon Section) are within provincial jurisdiction. The Kicking Horse Canyon section of the Trans-Canada Highway was constructed in the mid-1950s with the Yoho (5-Mile) and Park (10-Mile) bridges completed in 1956. The Kicking Horse Canyon Project involves upgrading the 25-kilometre section of the Trans-Canada Highway to a modern four-lane standard.
The first priority is the twinning of the 5-Mile (Yoho) Bridge. The project, announced by the Government of Canada in July 2002, is currently underway; the Governments of Canada provided $23 million through the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program for this project.
The second priority is the 10-Mile (Park) Bridge Replacement. The project’s estimated cost is $125 million to which the Governments of Canada and British Columbia will each contribute $62.5 million. The Government of Canada’s contribution will be made through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund.
Both of these projects were deemed necessary due to the treacherous condition of the bridges and nearby area. The accident rate in the Kicking Horse Canyon is more than double the provincial average. Between 1992 and 2001, there were almost 500 accidents causing 16 deaths and 354 injuries in the area.
Improvements to the 10-Mile (Park) Bridge involve the replacement of the existing 10-Mile (Park) Bridge, construction of new structures, upgrading of the approach curves and the construction of over 5 km of new highway.
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