For what it is worth they do seem to have targeted some of the relatively more difficult and expensive portions to upgrade first, often involving major bridge replacements.

There is 337 km of highway under BCMOT juridisction from Kamloops to the Alberta border. 118 of it is already twinned or better or 35%. There is a total of 24 km of twinning work being done right now (5km Chase, the recently announced 4km in Tappen, 3km Salmon Arm, 2km RW Bruhn Bridge, 2km Illecillewaet, 4 km Quartz Creek Bridge, 4km Kicking Horse Canyon). In a couple of years when that's all done, 42.1% of Hwy 1 under BCMOT jurisdiction will have been twinned. Not bad progress at all I'd say. If we can knock off at least 5% or 17km every 2 years after this, we will be done by 2045. This 40 year plan was announced around 2010?

^Thanks for the breakdown Dkaz, if BC is done the entire portion under their jurisdiction by 2045 I will eat my hat.
They have definitely ramped things up over the last 10 years but the fact the TCH is in it’s current state in 2021 is embarrassing.

Yeah Baby!!

Yeah - I like that they include a few kms of 4 laning when they replace bridges.

The new RW Bruhn Bridge project in Sicamous looks pretty good.

It includes an interchange on the west approach (though it isn't referred to as an interchange, right in and outs on both sides with acceleration and deceleration lanes connected by an underpass is in interchange in my books).

the two intersections on the east side of the bridge are also being upgraded and involve no traffic lights. As long as there are no traffic lights I am generally fine now for the TCH.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0e9eb93a_h.jpgEE40C227-F518-41FB-8D11-4E58D436102E by Ian, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...17a7054d_h.jpgF49C246F-6B92-4A13-8FC4-183314465464 by Ian, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...56b9241a_h.jpg90211E0B-FD40-4935-80E6-F278F148C859 by Ian, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6ef81df6_h.jpg8D46B61D-F15D-4525-BD3E-C6F43DC324B7 by Ian, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7a42d975_h.jpg15D2F8D9-1D6F-4798-A479-63E0BEAAFA8C by Ian, on Flickr

Apparently pre construction starts this year, and major construction starts next year.

For what it’s worth, it’s mostly controlled-access too. :yes:
Now I’ll be curious whether CN or CP will use this chance to twin the tracks too. Usually one just sees a line of cargo trains parked for the road construction (i.e. Chase).

If the economics were there to twin the tracks, it would be done regardless of the highway construction.

That's what they're trying to do when twinning Hwy 1, consolidate or remove access points.

If there is one section that really needs to turn into a freeway is the 4.5 km section in east Kamloops.

Ford Road to Tappen Valley project!

Looks good

Median Barriers ;)

Going from the northwest end to the southeast end.

I do like that all the upgrades involve frontage roads.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...637fa27f_b.jpg83528AF9-AFCD-4E90-8185-83B3726B9E82 by Ian, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e25af199_b.jpg9F54336B-3580-4703-9F03-AA4290FED287 by Ian, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9d7a2b4d_b.jpg280DDFC8-A9E8-4BEE-A159-3B11F8410B03 by Ian, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...55a4d18b_b.jpg6B349F7F-8695-41AE-B047-5B87008B8454 by Ian, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...47bc6c4e_b.jpgC94C882B-D910-47D7-B480-C0ED249D0591 by Ian, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a0847cff_b.jpg1DEE4648-FAE9-442F-9529-1923F96F6D68 by Ian, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b32234cc_b.jpg224BB173-B5FB-4C77-A8CF-F0F356491F19 by Ian, on Flickr

For those of us who don't get the chance to drive out to golden/kicking horse often here's a youtube video that has some of the latest progress on phase 4:

https://youtu.be/5S03w_qkiVA?t=10808

It's awesome to see all the work that's going on! This stretch is going to be breathtaking once complete.

Sweet cheers!

Loved that whole video - thanks.

Thanks! Also:

Quartz Creek Bridge: https://youtu.be/5S03w_qkiVA?t=10995
Illecillewaet: https://youtu.be/5S03w_qkiVA?t=11220
Salmon Arm: https://youtu.be/5S03w_qkiVA?t=11700
Chase: https://youtu.be/5S03w_qkiVA?t=11851

Nothing started on the just finalized RW Bruhn Bridge and the recently announced Tappen Valley Road portions yet.

This looks fun.

Source: BC Ministry of Transportation
https://scontent.fyxd1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...19&oe=6132E5D4

Haha "Why isn't the TCH twinned all through BC yet?" "BC is so slow on twinning this highway" etc.

MOT uploaded a ton of new construction pictures

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...bee99a55_b.jpgTraffic through the Kicking Horse Canyon Phase 4 construction site by B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, on Flickr

And yet other countries seem to have overcome the construction challenges associated with building “real” highways through the mountains long ago (I-70, I-80, I-90 etc.).
Just hasn’t been a priority for Canada (much to my frustration) ;).
BTW - The Feds should be funding 75% of TCH system upgrades IMO.

It would be good to get more Fed funding for long inter-provincial routes.

I wish we could stop comparing our situation to places with shorter routes between significantly larger population/economic centres: esp., US and Europe.

This is a little off topic, but in light of the wildfire situation, is it possible (or recommended) to drive through the Interior? Basically traveling from Alberta to the Lower Mainland. I just noticed the Coquhalla is closed between Merritt and Hope and there are other fires near Sicamous and Three Valley.

The interior is under two crises: Covid and wildfire. So, it depends upon how important your trip is, and if there is a safe route.

Remember, during a crisis like this there is a strain on all aspects of life. It's not just about evacuees and firefighters: every system is strained. For example, hotels are straining, not just to accommodate evacuees, but all sorts of officials who are needed for management and logistics. The fuel system is strained. The hospital system, the police, transport, etc. are all strained. YOU DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A POSITION WHERE YOU UNNECESSARILY ADD TO THAT LOAD.

So, check your odds and priorities before you decide.

(Here is how I look at it: I mountain bike, but during Covid and the strain on our paramedics, ambulances, and hospitals, I make a serious effort to make sure I don't end up in an Emerg. because of my 'sport.' I stay off difficult/risky trails, and ride conservatively and with caution.)