The Phase 4 “Canyon” section is the last and most difficult part of the entire Kicking Horse Canyon Project. The improvements must be built with a view to safety, cost-effectiveness and as little disruption as possible to highway users and the community. A concept plan has been developed as a “reference design” to accompany the written specifications in the design build contract. The contractor will be responsible for preparing a design that meets or exceeds the minimum requirements contained in the reference design. More than $600 million is being invested in the project, with the Government of Canada contributing $215.19 million and the B.C. government providing the remaining $385.58 million.
Phase 4 of the Kicking Horse Canyon Project lies between the previously-completed Phase 3 West (Golden Hill to West Portal) and Phase 1 (Yoho Bridge) sections. The project will:
- Upgrade approximately 4.8 kilometres of highway through the most challenging section of the canyon to improve safety
- Realign 13 curves and widen the highway to four lanes with median barrier and wider shoulders to accommodate cyclists
- Mitigate rock fall and avalanche hazards with bridges, rock catchment ditches and other measures
- Add wildlife exclusion fencing and wildlife passage opportunities to reduce vehicle-animal collisions
For this project, Elevation is:
- Delivering project management services during construction and through substantial completion
- Coordinating progress tracking with the multidisciplinary design team
- Managing stakeholder relations and facilitating analysis of impacts to stakeholders
- Providing continued coordination as the project moves towards total completion