BC Highway Construction

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by Bobert

I did not know this! Do we have any documents/images/concepts of this?

There once was an entire 3D fly through video, but that has now been removed.

[kev_427]

The link is unlisted, but I saved it a while ago.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBLRAGu1Ujw

[Calgarian]

Thanks for posting that, looks great! even though it's going to be almost a decade before it's done, this is desperately needed.

[craner]

So is that video of Kicking Horse Phase 4 the current plan ?

[Metro-One]

No, that was the previous one.

The new alignment is essentially the same, but they will be using a few more bridge structures and will blast away the mountain sides, and then use retaining walls, instead of the tunnels.

Very North American style.

[Stingray2004]

Phase 4 of the Kicking Horse Canyon, preliminary concept, included a tunnel as well as rock sheds/snow sheds on the western half. The cost thereto would have likely been closer to $650 million as opposed to the $400+ million in the final design.

Same 100 km/hr design speed except that the tunnel/rocksheds/snowsheds have been replaced by retaining walls as well as cantilevered highway/additional bridging. Brought down the cost. From BC MoTi:

Tunnels were a consideration in earlier design concepts, however, further engineering during the preliminary design phase found more cost effective solutions that did not require them.

The alignment is designed to avoid the areas of avalanche hazard, and accommodate rock falls in catchment ditches, like those used on the east approach to the Park Bridge.

[eloy]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

Is there any concept drawings of the finalized design?

I read that the phase 4 section is very unstable and that is maybe why they are going the tunnel route. I could be totally out to lunch though.

here are the drawings for phase 4. The project is officially still in design, so this may be updated, but it's the latest version
https://www.th.gov.bc.ca/kickinghorse/im...ing%20Concept%20Plan%20Z9A-D_REDUCED.jpg

[LeftCoaster]

^ Looks good, i went back a few pages but couldn't find any timeline info. Is there an expected start and end date yet?

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

^ Looks good, i went back a few pages but couldn't find any timeline info. Is there an expected start and end date yet?

The start date is 2019.

[craner]

Originally Posted by eloy

here are the drawings for phase 4. The project is officially still in design, so this may be updated, but it's the latest version
https://www.th.gov.bc.ca/kickinghorse/im...ing%20Concept%20Plan%20Z9A-D_REDUCED.jpg

Awesome! - thanks for posting that.

[240glt]

Anyone drive the TCH from Calgary to Salmon Arm lately ? Any big delays ?

Headed to Vernon in a few weeks via the #1, Haven't driven the TCH for a few years, excited to make that drive again instead of the usual mind numbingly boring and ugly Yellowhead route

[canucklehead2]

Still major traffic backups westbound east of Golden last time I went through there (Sept '16) mostly from semi trucks lumbering up the steep unimproved sections...

[Bobert]

I posted this in the canada board highways thread, and wonder what you guys think

How do you guys think they will twin the TCH through the Three Valley Gap area?

https://www.google.ca/maps/@50.9308124,-...YYPBNwg5sw04qQQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

I wonder if they will use the cantilever design similar to the one near the Yoho Bridge in Kicking Horse.

I think I remember reading here that the lake can't be reclaimed because of DFO or some other environmental reason. Doesn't seem to be many other options other than blasting but that would be a massive slop stability challenge.

[craner]

^Yeah - good question.
I wonder if they would just re-route it altogether ?

[s211]

Originally Posted by craner

^Yeah - good question.
I wonder if they would just re-route it altogether ?

How about decking it? I can appreciate that would be a pig to build and keep the existing road going, though.

[speedog]

Originally Posted by craner

^Yeah - good question.
I wonder if they would just re-route it altogether ?

To where?

[nname]

Just noticed the Golden Donald Upper Road exit on TCH in Golden had been signed as "exit 780"... but its only about 320km from the last exit 411 at Pritchard... Are they intend to make the Trans-Canada 50km longer?

[Teetos]

Originally Posted by nname

Just noticed the Golden Donald Upper Road exit on TCH in Golden had been signed as "exit 780"... but its only about 320km from the last exit 411 at Pritchard... Are they intend to make the Trans-Canada 50km longer?

Allowance for future bypasses perhaps?
I also find it odd that exits east of Kamloops are numbered differently in either direction; I've seen plans for the Juniper-Valleyview realignment in that vicinity.

[240glt]

For anyone travelling up hwy 5 north of Kamloops there are a couple of areas along the North Thompson where the shoulder has washed away, so expect delays around Cleareater and Blue River

And not really BC related but they're doing a massive amount of road work this summer through Jasper, it's going to be a very painful season. We're thinking we'll just avoid it altogether this year

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by 240glt

For anyone travelling up hwy 5 north of Kamloops there are a couple of areas along the North Thompson where the shoulder has washed away, so expect delays around Cleareater and Blue River

And not really BC related but they're doing a massive amount of road work this summer through Jasper, it's going to be a very painful season. We're thinking we'll just avoid it altogether this year

Don't you spend time in the BC Interior? If so, how do you propose getting there? Calgary>Banff>Kamloops wouldn't be much better. Lot's of construction here too plus heavier traffic would make for a shitty drive as well.