Alberta Highway 1A
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Segments of Highway 1A in Alberta | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by Parks Canada, Alberta Transportation, City of Calgary | ||||
| Bow Valley Parkway | ||||
| Length: | 51 km (32 mi) | |||
| West end: |
 Hwy 1 at Lake Louise | |||
| Major junctions: |
 Hwy 93 at Castle Junction | |||
| East end: |
Hwy 1 west of Banff | |||
| Bow Valley Trail | ||||
| Length: | 103 km (64 mi) | |||
| West end: |
Hwy 1 in Canmore | |||
| Major junctions: |
 Hwy 1X near Exshaw Hwy 40 near Ghost Lake Hwy 22 in Cochrane Hwy 201 in Calgary | |||
| East end: |
Hwy 1 in Calgary | |||
| Location | ||||
| Specialized and rural municipalities: | I.D. No. 9, M.D. of Bighorn No. 8, Rocky View County | |||
| Major cities: | Calgary | |||
| Towns: | Canmore, Cochrane | |||
| Villages: | Lake Louise | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Provincial highways in Alberta
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Alberta Provincial Highway No. 1A is the designation of two alternate routes off the Alberta portion of the Trans-Canada Highway. However, it is not the only name used for spurs off Highway 1 - Highway 1X is another such designation. These highways, however, are not part of the Trans-Canada Highway network, and only have Alberta's provincial primary highway shields instead of the ones used for the Trans-Canada Highway.[1]
Bow Valley Parkway
The Lake Louise to Banff section of the Banff National Park 1A route is also known as the Bow Valley Parkway.[2] It begins at Highway 1 at Lake Louise, generally paralleling it until it meets Highway 1 again approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) west of Banff. It provides more immediate access to attractions in Banff National Park such as Castle Mountain and Johnston Canyon. This spur has a reduced speed limit of 60 km/h (37 mph), and provides opportunities to view wildlife at various times of the year.
Parks Canada introduced planned and marked pullovers along the route to enhance and educate visitors about the region. The Bow Valley Parkway is one of only two parkways between Lake Louise and Banff, and the only one that allows views of the mountain scenery, waterfalls, and various view points of the nearby rivers and creeks. It was the original highway that connected the valley and is advertised as a "year-round scenic heritage experience".[3]
Parks Canada enacted seasonal travel restrictions along the Bow Valley Parkway on a 17 km (11 mi) segment between the Johnston Canyon Campground and the Fireside Picnic Area (adjacent to the Highway 1 eastern junction). From March 1st to June 25th, travel is not permitted between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. in order to protect wildlife. Highway 1 can be used as an alternate route.[3]
Major intersections
Starting from the west end of Highway 1A:[4]
| Rural/specialized municipality | Location | km | mi | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I.D. No. 9 (Banff National Park) | Lake Louise | 0 | 0.0 | Hwy 1 (TCH) / Hwy 93 – Banff, Jasper, Golden Lake Louise Drive – Chateau Lake Louise, Moraine Lake | Grade separated 51°25′34″N 116°10′24″W / 51.42611°N 116.17333°W |
| | 0.85 | 0.53 | Whitehorn Road – Lake Louise Ski Resort | Hwy 1A branches southeast 51°25′32″N 116°9′44″W / 51.42556°N 116.16222°W | |
| Castle Junction | 27 | 17 | To Hwy 93 south – Hwy 1, Radium Hot Springs | 51°16′9″N 115°55′6″W / 51.26917°N 115.91833°W | |
| | 34 | 21 | Johnston Creek | 51°14′42″N 115°50′26″W / 51.24500°N 115.84056°W | |
| | 51 | 32 | Hwy 1 (TCH) – Banff, Calgary, Lake Louise | Grade separated 51°10′11″N 115°39′23″W / 51.16972°N 115.65639°W | |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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Bow Valley Trail
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Bow Valley Trail | |
| Length: | 89 km (55 mi) |
| West end: |
Hwy 1 in Canmore |
| East end: | 12 Mile Coulee Road, Calgary |
The second of the 1A routes, known as the Bow Valley Trail, begins in Canmore, off of the Trans-Canada Highway at exit 91. It formerly began at the Trans-Canada Highway at exit 86 and passed through Canmore; however, ownership of the section was transferred to the Town of Canmore. The roadway still carries the name "Bow Valley Trail".[1]
From exit 91, it heads eastbound, along the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks, until it reaches the Hamlet of Exshaw. From Exshaw, Bow Valley Trail heads to the northeast, past Highway 1X.[1]
Just east of Highway 1X, Bow Valley Trail narrows and the speed limit is reduced to 80 km/h (50 mph) for approximately thirty kilometres as it passes through the Stoney Indian Reserve, where warning signs that there may be livestock and/or pedestrians on the road are posted. Highway 1A passes Morley approximately eight kilometres from the reserve's eastern boundary; the community is situated just south of the highway. As the highway leaves the reserve, it widens and the speed limit increases back to 100 km/h (62 mph). Shortly after leaving the reserve, the highway skirts the north shore of Ghost Lake, a manmade glacier lake that is a popular spot for Calgary's boating and sailing enthusiasts in the summer, as well as ice sailing in the winter. The lake also supplies most of the water power for Calgary through TransAlta Utilities. Highway 1A meets northbound Highway 40 approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) after passing Ghost Lake.
From Highway 40, Bow Valley Trail proceeds towards the east, and then slightly to the southeast, before reaching the Town of Cochrane, where it intersects with Highway 22. There, the highway widens to 4 lanes as it leaves Cochrane and proceeds 18 km (11 mi) southeast until it reaches Calgary, meeting northbound Highway 766 about 6 km (3.7 mi) west of the city limits. Upon reaching the Calgary city limits at 12 Mile Coulee Road, it continues as Crowchild Trail, a major north-south expressway, (although it travels in a southeasterly direction from the city limits to 24 Avenue NW) through the northwest and southwest parts of the city. Within Calgary, it crosses Stoney Trail (Highway 201) as well as a number of major streets, before reuniting with the Trans-Canada Highway (known as 16 Avenue North) near McMahon Stadium and the University of Calgary. The section along Crowchild Trail is maintained by the City of Calgary rather than Alberta Transportation.
Major intersections
Starting from the west end of Highway 1A:[4]
Former alignments
Icefields Parkway
(Icefields Parkway) | |
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| Location: | Banff N.P, Jasper N.P. |
| Length: | 228 km (142 mi) |
| Existed: | 1940–1959 |
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When initially constructed, the Icefields Parkway was designated as Highway 1A between Lake Louise and Jasper. The route was renumbered to Highway 93 in 1959.[5]
Kicking Horse Pass
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| Location: | Yoho N.P, Banff N.P. |
| Length: | 6.0 km[6] (3.7 mi) |
A former section of Highway 1A precedes the Bow Valley Parkway. Now known as Lake Louise Drive, the former route began at British Columbia Highway 1, 2.9 km (1.8 mi) west of the Alberta border in Yoho National Park. It meandered eastward through Kicking Horse Pass to Lake Louise, generally paralleling the main Highway 1 and CPR rail line to the south.[1] The route outside of Lake Louise is now closed to vehicle traffic and is known as the Great Divide hiking trail.[7]
17 Avenue SE
(17 Avenue SE) | |
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| Location: | Calgary, Chestermere |
| Length: | 14 km[8] (8.7 mi) |
| Existed: | 1949–2013 |
Highway 1A used to be an alternate route that followed 17 Avenue SE in Calgary and linked with Highway 1 in Chestermere. It began at Highway 2 (Deerfoot Trail) and Blackfoot Trail interchange and continued east along 17 Avenue SE where it passed through the former town of Forest Lawn. It crossed 116 Street SE, entering Chestermere, and terminated at the Highway 1 interchange. It was dropped by the province in 2013 and the section within Chestermere was renamed to Chestermere Boulevard.[9] As of 2016, remnant Highway 1A signage still remains on Deerfoot Trail and sections of 17 Avenue SE within Calgary; however, it has been removed along Stoney Trail, through Chestermere, and along the Trans-Canada Highway.
Downtown Calgary
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| Location: | Calgary |
| Length: | 11 km[10] (6.8 mi) |
| Existed: | 1949–1970s |
The existing Bow Valley Trail / Crowchild Trail section and former 17 Avenue SE section of Highway 1A used to be connected by following a series of streets through inner-city Calgary. From its present terminus, Highway 1A followed 16 Avenue NW east and was cosigned with Highway 1 to 14 Street NW. Highway 1A turned south, and after crossing the Bow River using the Mewata Bridge, and then branches east at its interchange Bow Trail. Highway 1A passed through downtown Calgary on a pair of one-way streets, with eastbound traffic following 9 Avenue S and westbound traffic following 6 Avenue S. East of 6 Street SE, both directions of Highway 1A followed 9 Avenue SE, crossing the Elbow River on the Inglewood Bridge and passing through the community of Inglewood, linking with eastern section of Highway 1A by either using 16 Street SE and Blackfoot Trail, or directly along 17 Avenue SE.[11] This section of Highway 1A was dropped in the 1970s.
Highway 1X
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Highway 1X highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by Alberta Transportation | ||||
| Length: | 4.5 km (2.8 mi) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end: |
Hwy 1 (TCH) west of Seebe | |||
| North end: |
Hwy 1A east of Exshaw | |||
| Location | ||||
| Specialized and rural municipalities: | Kananaskis I.D., Bighorn No. 8 M.D. | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Provincial highways in Alberta
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Alberta Provincial Highway No. 1X is a spur highway between Highway 1 and Highway 1A approximately 7 km (4.3 mi) east of Exshaw near the western edge of the Stoney Indian Reserve.[1] It serves as the only Bow River crossing between Canmore to the west and Morley to the east, providing access to First Nations lands and communities in the area. At 4.5 km (2.8 mi) in length, it is one of Alberta's shortest provincial highways.[4]
Major intersections
| Rural/specialized municipality | Location | km[4] | mi | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kananaskis Improvement District | | 0.0 | 0.0 | Hwy 1 (TCH) – Canmore, Banff, Calgary | Grade separated Highway 1X begins 51°4′41″N 115°3′27″W / 51.07806°N 115.05750°W |
| M.D. of Bighorn No. 8 | | 2.2 | 1.4 | Crosses Bow River | 51°5′48″N 115°3′51″W / 51.09667°N 115.06417°W |
| | 3.0 | 1.9 | Seebe | ||
| | 4.5 | 2.8 | Hwy 1A (Bow Valley Trail) – Exshaw, Canmore, Cochrane, Calgary | Highway 1X ends 51°6′9″N 115°5′14″W / 51.10250°N 115.08722°W |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Google (December 16, 2016). "Southern Alberta" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
- ↑ Lake Louise Road & Trail Map
- 1 2 "Bow Valley Parkway". Parks Canada - Banff National Park. Government of Canada. February 16, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 "2016 Provincial Highway 1-216 Progress Chart" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. March 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
- ↑ Official Road Map of the Province of Alberta (PDF) (Map). Department of Highways. 1960. §§ B-6, C-5, C-4.
- ↑ "Short Hikes - Great Divide". Parks Canada: Yoho National Park. Government of Canada. June 19, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
- ↑ Map of Yoho National Park (PDF). Parks Canada. 2015.
- ↑ Google (December 21, 2016). "Old Hwy 1A - 17 Ave SE" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ↑ "Highway 1A Becomes Chestermere Boulevard". Town of Chestermere. June 17, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- ↑ Google (December 21, 2016). "Old Hwy 1A through downtown Calgary" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ↑ Province of Alberta Canada Official Road Map 1962 (Map). Government of the Province of Alberta. § Calgary inset.