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27-497: The Banff–Windermere Highway begins at British Columbia Highway 95 in village of Radium Hot Springs at the north end of the 134 km (83 mi) Highway 93/95 concurrency , approximately 15 km (9 mi) north of Windermere Lake where the highway gains its name. The highway passes through the village, passing numerous tourist services, overlooking Sinclair Creek . Approximately 1.3 km (0.8 mi) northeast of Highway 95, it enters Kootenay National Park, passing through

54-558: A numbered highway system, and was designated as Highway 1B . In 1953, the highway between Roosville and Elko opened and was designated as Highway 93 as it was a northern extension of U.S. Route 93 , and in 1959 the Banff–Windermere Highway and Icefields Parkway were renumbered to be a part of Highway 93. [REDACTED] Roads portal [REDACTED] Media related to Banff-Windermere Highway at Wikimedia Commons British Columbia Highway 95 Highway 95

81-579: A suspension of construction, and following the conclusion of the war the British Columbia provincial government did not have enough funds to complete the project. The Banff-Windermere Road Agreement was reached whereby the federal government would complete the remaining 85 km (53 mi) of road, and in exchange they would receive a 5 mi (8 km) buffer of land on each side of the highway for conservation purposes; approximately 1,600 km (600 sq mi) in total. This resulted in

108-793: Is a 230 km (140 mi) long scenic road that parallels the Continental Divide , traversing the rugged landscape of the Canadian Rockies , travelling through Banff National Park and Jasper National Park . It is named for features such as the Columbia Icefield , visible from the parkway . It links Lake Louise with Jasper to the north. At its southern end, the Icefields Parkway terminates at Highway 1. Highway 1 west leads to Yoho National Park in British Columbia and Highway 1 east to Lake Louise and

135-663: Is a north-south highway in the southeastern corner of British Columbia , opened in 1957. The highway connects with U.S. Route 95 , from which the highway takes its number, at the Canada–U.S. border at Kingsgate , just north of Eastport , Idaho . The section between the Canada-U.S. border and the Crowsnest Highway is known as the Yahk–Kingsgate Highway while the section between the Crowsnest Highway and Golden

162-813: Is a north–south highway in Alberta , Canada. It is also known as the Banff-Windermere Parkway south of the Trans-Canada Highway ( Highway 1 ) and the Icefields Parkway north of the Trans-Canada Highway. It travels through Banff National Park and Jasper National Park and is maintained by Parks Canada for its entire length. It runs from the British Columbia border at Vermilion Pass in

189-678: Is another 7 km (4 mi) east to the Fort Steele junction, where Highway 3 hands Highway 95 off to Highway 93 . From the Fort Steele junction, Highway 95 follows Highway 93 north for 31 km (19 mi) through the community of Wasa , to where Highway 95A's east junction is located. From the Highway 95A junction, Highway 93/95 follows the Kootenay River upstream for 45 km (28 mi), through Skookumchuck to

216-546: Is common in winter. A Canadian national parks permit is required to travel on the Icefields Parkway; stations near Lake Louise, Jasper and Saskatchewan River Crossing enforce the law. Commercial trucks are prohibited. The speed limit is 90 km/h (55 mph) although the limit is reduced at Saskatchewan River Crossing and the Columbia Icefield area. In winter, chains or winter-rated radial tires are required by law and road closures may occur without warning. There

243-563: Is known as the Kootenay–Columbia Highway . Highway 95, one of the most overlapped highways in the province, shares most of its route with other numbered highways. The 329 km (204 mi) long Highway 95 begins at the international border in a small community called Kingsgate . It connects to U.S. Route 95 at the Eastport-Kingsgate Border Crossing . Heading north from there, it follows

270-598: Is no cell coverage. Starting from the south end of Highway 93: Download coordinates as: Just south of Jasper, a short spur of the parkway branches off as Highway 93A, providing access to businesses on the south side of Jasper and providing an alternative route into the community via Hazel Avenue. Another Highway 93A spur farther south is 24 km (15 mi) long, is along Highway 93 and provides alternative access to viewpoints and other attractions within Jasper National Park. Highway 93A south of Jasper

297-632: The Bow River valley, with a full view of Castle Mountain , and intersects the Trans-Canada Highway ( Alberta Highway 1 ) at Castle Junction, approximately 31 km (19 mi) west of Banff. From there, Highway 93 follows Highway 1 to Lake Louise, while the roadway (still referred to as part of the Banff-Windermere Highway ) continues another 1.1 km (0.7 mi) to the Bow Valley Parkway (Alberta Highway 1A) on

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324-557: The Canadian Pacific Railway was completed and brought increased tourist traffic to Banff National Park. In 1931, the federal government commissioned the construction of a single-track road between Lake Louise and Jasper in the Great Depression as a relief project . In order to employ as many people as possible, the road was constructed by hand and employed 600 men. The road was completed in 1940; however,

351-456: The Continental Divide , to the junction of the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) at Castle Junction . The final 10 km (6.2 mi) of the highway are in Alberta and Banff National Park. Prior to 1959, the highway was designated as Highway 1B. Highway 93 connects with the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) at Castle Junction, midway between Banff and Lake Louise . Highway 93 follows

378-556: The Moyie River northeast for 11 km (7 mi) to the town of Yahk , where it merges onto the Crowsnest Highway ( Highway 3 ). Highway 95 follows the Crowsnest Highway northeast for 72 km (45 mi) to the city of Cranbrook , where Highway 95A , designated in 1968 and following the original alignment of Highway 95 for 54 km (34 mi) through Kimberley and Ta Ta Creek , begins. From Cranbrook, it

405-639: The 1950s saw an increase in automobile use and increased traffic along the parkway. In 1961, a reconstructed paved and modern highway was opened, and in 1969, Brewster Sightseeing began to operate snowmobile tours on the Athabasca Glacier , located just beside the highway. The parkway is busy in July and August with up to 100,000 vehicles a month. The parkway is mainly two lanes with occasional passing lanes. It minimizes grades and hairpin turns . Snow can be expected at any time of year and extreme weather

432-530: The BC provincial government to construct a road. With the overall goal of constructing an all-Canadian road between the Canadian Prairies and Pacific Ocean , the Alberta provincial and federal governments were consulted. Construction began in 1911, and by 1914 the road was opened between Calgary and Vermilion Pass as well as a 19 km (12 mi) western section. The outbreak of World War I resulted in

459-616: The Town of Banff . A second parkway, the Bow Valley Parkway also links Lake Louise and the Town of Banff. Known as Highway 1A, this road parallels Highway 1 and, at the midpoint, passes the Castle Mountain junction where Highway 93 south, or the Banff-Windermere Highway , branches southwest into Kootenay National Park in British Columbia. The Icefields Parkway was predated by the Glacier Trail , which opened in 1885 after

486-407: The Trans-Canada Highway for 28 km (17 mi) northwest, diverging from highway 1 west of Lake Louise. Highway 1 continues west to Yoho National Park . The Bow Valley Parkway ( Highway 1A ) also links Lake Louise and Banff. This road parallels Highway 1 and, at the midpoint, passes Castle junction where it links with Highway 93. The Icefields Parkway ( French : Promenade des Glaciers ),

513-557: The bypass was numbered Highway 93 with the Highway through Kimberley continuing to be numbered 95 for a few years until the completion of the "freeway style" interchange at Eager Hill when the bypass became 93/95 with the Kimberly alignment becoming Highway 95A in order to discourage through traffic from unnecessarily passing through Kimberly. From south to north: [REDACTED] Media related to British Columbia Highway 95 at Wikimedia Commons Icefields Parkway Highway 93

540-656: The creation of Kootenay National Park . The road opened in 1922 and was first highway to cross the Central Canadian Rockies, with the Kicking Horse Trail across Kicking Horse Pass (the corridor which eventually became part of the Trans-Canada Highway) opening in 1926, connecting Lake Louise and Golden . The Banff–Windermere Highway took on the designation of Route 'U' in the 1930s until 1941 when British Columbia adopted

567-640: The locations of Edgewater , Brisco , Spillimacheen and Parson , to where it terminates at its junction with the Trans-Canada Highway ( Highway 1 ) at Golden . Prior to 1941, British Columbia used lettered routes as opposed to numbers, and the Kootenay–Columbia Highway between Cranbrook and Golden was designated as part of Route U , which continued south to U.S. Route 93 at Roosville along present-day Highway 93. In 1941, British Columbia introduced numbered highways, with Highway 95 begin designated on 11 km (7 mi) Yahk–Kingsgate Highway,

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594-586: The north side of the Bow River. The corridor along the Kootenay and Vermilion Rivers had been used as a first nations travel route for thousands of years. In 1858, Sir James Hector travelled through Vermilion Pass and recommended that it would be the best route for a wagon road. In the early 1900s settlers in the Columbia Valley advocated for improved connections with Banff and Calgary and lobbied

621-457: The northern extension of U.S. Route 95, while the Kootenay–Columbia Highway between Cranbrook and Golden was designated as Highway 4 . In 1953, the Highway 4 was moved to its present location on Vancouver Island , with the Kootenay–Columbia Highway being renumbered to Highway 95. In 1968, A shorter alignment opened bypassing the Kimberley route via Ft Steele and Wasa. Immediately after opening

648-490: The park gates. It continues through Sinclair Canyon and the Radium Hot Springs pools before passing through a short tunnel. East of the tunnel, the speed limit increases to 90 km/h (56 mph) and begins its climb to Sinclair Pass , reaching an elevation of 1,486 m (4,875 ft). East of the summit, the highway reaches a viewpoint of the Kootenay River valley, where it turns north and descends into

675-687: The south, where it becomes British Columbia Highway 93 , to its terminus at the junction with the Yellowhead Highway ( Highway 16 ) at Jasper . The route takes its number from U.S. Route 93 , which runs uninterrupted south to central Arizona , and was initially designated as '93' in 1959. The southern portion of the route is part of the Banff-Windermere Highway, a 104 km (65 mi) highway that travels from British Columbia Highway 95 at Radium Hot Springs , through Kootenay National Park and Vermilion Pass across

702-539: The town of Canal Flats , at the southern end of Columbia Lake . North of Canal Flats, Highway 93/95 travels for 58 km (36 mi) along the Columbia River , through the communities of Fairmont Hot Springs , Windermere and Invermere to the town of Radium Hot Springs , where Highway 93 diverges east. Highway 95 continues to follow the Columbia River north for 105 km (65 mi), through

729-602: The valley. The highway follows the Kootenay River to and area known as Kootenay Crossing , where the highway crosses the river and follows the Vermilion River . The highway follows the valley northeast and climbs up to Vermilion Pass at the Continental Divide , reaching an elevation of 1,680 m (5,510 ft). At the summit, the highway leaves both British Columbia and Kootenay National Park, entering Alberta and Banff National Park. The highway descends into

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