British Columbia Highway 93

Highway 93 shield

Highway 93
Elko–Roosville Highway
Kootenay–Columbia Highway
Banff–Windermere Parkway
Route information
Length: 321 km[1] (199 mi)
Existed: 1958 – present
Major junctions
South end: US 93 at Canada–US border
  BC 3 in Elko
BC 3 / BC 95 near Fort Steele
BC 95A near Wasa
BC 95 at Radium Hot Springs
North end: Alberta border at Vermilion Pass
continues as Hwy 93
Highway system

British Columbia provincial highways

← BC 91ABC 95 →

Highway 93 is a north–south route through the southeastern part of British Columbia, in the Regional District of East Kootenay and takes its number from U.S. Highway 93 that it connects with at the Canada-U.S. border. It follows the Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3) and Highway 95 through Radium Hot Springs and to where it crosses the Continental Divide into Alberta at Vermilion Pass, where it continues as Alberta Highway 93.[2] The section between the Canada-U.S. border and the Crowsnest Highway is known as the Elko–Roosville Highway, the section between the Crowsnest Highway and Radium Hot Springs is known as the Kootenay–Columbia Highway,[3] while the section east of Radium Hot Srings is known as the Banff–Windermere Parkway.[4]

Route details

Highway 93 southbound, north of Radium Hot Springs, exit from Kootenay National Park

From the international border crossing at Roosville, the 321 km (199 mi) long Highway 93 parallels the eastern shore of Lake Koocanusa for 36 km (22 mi) to where it meets the Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3) at Elko. Highway 3 carries Highway 93 west for 53 km (33 mi) to where it is handed off to Highway 95 just south of Fort Steele. Highway 95 carries Highway 93 north for another 134 km (83 mi) along the Kootenay River and the Columbia River passing through Wasa, Canal Flats, Fairmont Hot Springs and Invermere to Radium Hot Springs, where Highway 95 diverges north towards Golden.

Highway 93 leaves the concurrence and proceeds east from Radium Hot Springs for about 1 km (1⁄2 mi) to the western gate of Kootenay National Park. Through the park, the highway travels northeast along the Kootenay and Vermilion rivers for 93 km (58 mi) to Vermilion Pass and the Alberta border, where it is continues as Alberta Highway 93.[2] After crossing the border, the highway continues for another 11 km (7 mi) to meet the Trans-Canada Highway (Alberta Highway 1) near Castle Junction.[2]

History

Castle Mountain, in Banff National Park, as seen from Highway 93 near the Alberta border.

The Highway first opened in 1953 from the international border to Elko, on Highway 3, but it did not follow its current route from the border until 1958. Before 1959, the Banff–Windermere Parkway, the segment of Highway 93 east of Radium Hot Springs, had a designation of Highway 1B,[5] reflecting its connection to the Trans-Canada Highway within Alberta at Castle Junction. In 1959, Highway 93 was extended from Elko along Highway 3 and Highway 95 to Radium Hot Springs, while Highway 1B and the Icefields Parkway (known as Highway 1A) were renumbered to their present designation.

Major intersections

From west to east:[6]

Regional districtLocationkm[1]miDestinationsNotes
East KootenayRoosville0.000.00Canada – United States border at Roosville Border Crossing
Continues as US 93 south – Kalispell, Missoula
Elko36.9522.96 BC 3 east (Crowsnest Highway) – Fernie, LethbridgeBC 93 branches west; south end of BC 3 concurrency
​66.9141.58Wardner Bridge across the Kootenay River
92.6957.59 BC 3 west / BC 95 south (Crowsnest Highway) – Cranbrook, Creston, Coeur d'AleneFort Steele Interchange; BC 93 branches north; north end of BC 3 concurrency; south end of BC 95 concurrency
Fort Steele99.6961.94Fort Steele Bridge across the Kootenay River
Wasa119.2274.08Wasa Lake Park Drive
​124.3577.27Wasa Bridge across the Kootenay River
124.4877.35 BC 95A south – KimberleyBC 93/95 concurrency branches north
136.9285.08Springbrook Bridge across the Kootenay River
Canal Flats165.44102.80Canal Flats Bridge across the Kootenay River
​189.43117.71Fairmont Bridge across the Columbia River
Fairmont Hot Springs190.85118.59Riverview Road, Fairmont Resort Road
Windermere208.28129.42The Bench Road
Invermere213.93132.93Athalmer Road, Black Forest TrailAccess to Panorama Mountain
Radium Hot Springs227.09141.11 BC 95 north – GoldenBC 93 branches northeast; north end of BC 95 concurrency
228.36141.90West gate of Kootenay National Park
Kootenay National Park239.53148.84Sinclair Pass – 1,486 m (4,875 ft)
270.88168.32Kootenay Crossing Bridge across the Kootenay River
321.03199.48Alberta border at Vermilion Pass – 1,680 m (5,510 ft)
Continues as Hwy 93 north to Hwy 1 (TCH) – Banff National Park, Banff, Lake Louise
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. 1 2 Landmark Kilometre Inventory (PDF). British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (Report). Cypher Consulting. July 2016. pp. 112; 404–412.
  2. 1 2 3 Tourism British Columbia. Super, Natural British Columbia Road Map & Parks Guide (Map) (2010-2011 ed.). Davenport Maps Ltd. §§ J-11, J-12, K-11, K-12, L-12.
  3. ↑ "Official Numbered Routes in British Columbia". Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Province of British Columbia. June 8, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  4. ↑ "History of the Parkway". Kootenay National Park. Parks Canada. January 12, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  5. ↑ The H.M. Gousha Company (1956). "British Columbia-Alberta" (Map). Shell Map of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The Shell Oil Company. §§ E-11, F-11.
  6. ↑ British Columbia Road Atlas (Map) (2007 ed.). Oshawa, ON: MapArt Publishing Corp. p. 50, 62, 74-75. ISBN 1-55368-018-9.

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