British Columbia Highway 93

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–United States 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 Springs is known as the Banff–Windermere Parkway.[4]

Highway 93 marker

Highway 93

Highway 93 highlighted in red.
Route information
Maintained by British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Length321 km[1] (199 mi)
Existed1958–present
Component
highways		(1) Elko–Roosville Highway
(2) Kootenay–Columbia Highway
(3) Banff–Windermere Parkway
Major junctions
South end US 93 at Canada–US border at Roosville
Major intersections Hwy 3 in Elko
Hwy 3 / Hwy 95 near Fort Steele
Hwy 95A near Wasa
Hwy 95 at Radium Hot Springs
North end Hwy 93 at Alberta border at Vermilion Pass
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
Highway system
    ← Hwy 91A→ Hwy 95

    Route description
    Highway 93

    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 1.3 km (0.8 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
    See also: Banff-Windermere Highway

    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.[5] Before 1959, the Banff–Windermere Parkway, the segment of Highway 93 east of Radium Hot Springs, had a designation of Highway 1B,[6] 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 south to north:[7]

    Regional DistrictLocationkm[1]miDestinationsNotes
    East KootenayRoosville0.000.00
     US 93 south – Eureka, Kalispell    		Continues into Montana
    Canada–United States border at Roosville Border Crossing
    Elko36.9522.96 Hwy 3 east (Crowsnest Highway) – Fernie, LethbridgeSouth end of Hwy 3 concurrency
    ​66.2241.15Wardner Fort Steele Road (Hwy 935:1381 north) – Fort Steele
    66.9141.58Wardner Bridge across the Kootenay River
    92.6957.59 Hwy 3 west (Crowsnest Highway) / Hwy 95 south – CranbrookFort Steele Interchange
    North end of Hwy 3 concurrency; south end of Hwy 95 concurrency
    Fort Steele99.6961.94Fort Steele Bridge across the Kootenay River
    100.8362.65Wardner Fort Steele Road (Hwy 935:1381 south) – Wardner
    ​124.3577.27Wasa Bridge across the Kootenay River
    124.4877.35 Hwy 95A south – Kimberley
    136.9285.08Springbrook Bridge across the Kootenay River
    Canal Flats165.44102.80Canal Flats Bridge across the Kootenay River
    ​187.57116.55Westside Road (Hwy 935:2143 north) – Invermere
    189.43117.71Fairmont Bridge across the Columbia River
    Fairmont Hot Springs190.85118.59Riverview Road, Fairmont Resort Road
    Invermere213.93132.93Athalmer RoadAccess to Panorama Mountain
    Radium Hot Springs227.09141.11 Hwy 95 north – GoldenNorth end of Hwy 95 concurrency; south end of Banff–Windermere Highway
    Kootenay National Park228.36141.90West gate of Kootenay National Park
    ​231.50143.85Iron Gates Tunnel
    239.53148.84Sinclair Pass – 1,486 m (4,875 ft)
    270.88168.32Kootenay Crossing Bridge across the Kootenay River
    321.03199.48Vermilion Pass (Continental Divide) – 1,680 m (5,510 ft)
    Hwy 93 north – Banff, Lake LouiseContinues into Alberta and Banff National Park
    1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

    See also

    References
    1. Landmark Kilometre Inventory (PDF). British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (Report). Cypher Consulting. July 2016. pp. 112, 404–412. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-11. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
    2. 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. Archived from the original on 2017-01-05. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
    4. "History of the Parkway". Kootenay National Park. Parks Canada. January 12, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
    5. Staff Writer (24 September 1958). "East Kootenay". The Province. The Province. A ribbon cutting ceremony, at a date yet to be selected, will mark the official opening of the reconstructed Highway No. 93...
    6. 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.
    7. British Columbia Road Atlas (Map) (2007 ed.). Oshawa, ON: MapArt Publishing Corp. p. 50, 62, 74-75. ISBN 1-55368-018-9.

    Further reading
    • Parfit, Michael; Chris Johns (Dec 1992). "The Hard Ride of Route 93". National Geographic. National Geographic Society. 182 (6): 42–69.

    Media related to British Columbia Highway 93 at Wikimedia Commons


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