Crowsnest Highway: Difference between revisions
add rural municipalities |
→Route details: amend route details - why are various BC towns etc not mentioned in the infobx, given the detail spent on Alberta??? |
||
| Line 36: | Line 36: | ||
[[Image:Crownest similkameen.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Through the Similkameen Valley westwards into the mountains]] |
[[Image:Crownest similkameen.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Through the Similkameen Valley westwards into the mountains]] |
||
After Princeton, the Crowsnest goes southeast for 67 km (42 miles), through [[Hedley, British Columbia|Hedley]], to the Village of [[Keremeos, British Columbia|Keremeos]], where a junction with a length of highway designated as [[British Columbia provincial highway 3A|3A]] is located. Another 46 km (29 miles) southeast, and the Crowsnest reaches the Town of [[Osoyoos, British Columbia|Osoyoos]] and a junction with [[British Columbia provincial highway 97|Highway 97]]. The highway then proceeds to hug the [[Canada]]-[[United States|U.S.]] border east through a stretch of switchbacks. |
After Princeton, the Crowsnest goes southeast for 67 km (42 miles), through [[Hedley, British Columbia|Hedley]], to the Village of [[Keremeos, British Columbia|Keremeos]], where a junction with a length of highway designated as [[British Columbia provincial highway 3A|3A]] is located, leading towards [[Penticton]] and [[British Columbia provincial highway 97|Highway 97]]. Another 46 km (29 miles) southeast, and the Crowsnest reaches the Town of [[Osoyoos, British Columbia|Osoyoos]] and a junction with [[British Columbia provincial highway 97|Highway 97]]. The highway then proceeds to hug the [[Canada]]-[[United States|U.S.]] border east through a stretch of switchbacks known as [[Anarchist Mountain]], which is also the name of the upland rural community beyond the summit. |
||
52 km (32 miles) east of Osoyoos, the Crowsnest reaches its junction with [[British Columbia provincial highway 33|Highway 33]] at [[Rock Creek, British Columbia|Rock Creek]], then the highway heads east for 70 km (44 miles) to its junction with [[British Columbia provincial highway 41|Highway 41]] at a location called Carson, just west of [[Grand Forks, British Columbia|Grand Forks]]. Another 26 km (16 miles) east, passing through Grand Forks en route, the Crowsnest meets [[British Columbia provincial highway 395|Highway 395]] at the southern end of [[Christina Lake, British Columbia|Christina Lake]]. |
52 km (32 miles) east of Osoyoos, the Crowsnest reaches its junction with [[British Columbia provincial highway 33|Highway 33]] at [[Rock Creek, British Columbia|Rock Creek]], then the highway heads east for 70 km (44 miles) to its junction with [[British Columbia provincial highway 41|Highway 41]] at a location called Carson, just west of [[Grand Forks, British Columbia|Grand Forks]]. Another 26 km (16 miles) east, passing through Grand Forks en route, the Crowsnest meets [[British Columbia provincial highway 395|Highway 395]] at the southern end of [[Christina Lake, British Columbia|Christina Lake]]. |
||
Further east from Christina Lake, the Crowsnest travels for 47 km (29 miles) through [[Bonanza Pass]] to its junction with [[British Columbia provincial highway 3B|Highway 3B]] at Nancy Greene Lake. It is another 26 km (16 miles) east to the junction with [[British Columbia provincial highway 22|Highway 22]] at [[Castlegar, British Columbia|Castlegar]], and another 2 km (1¼ miles) east to a junction with another stretch of Highway designated as 3A, also within Castlegar. Leaving Castlegar, the Crowsnest reaches its eastern junction with Highway 3B 26 km (16 miles) east. [[British Columbia provincial highway 6|Highway 6]] converges with the Crowsnest at [[Salmo, British Columbia|Salmo]], 11 km (7 miles) east of the 3B junction, and the two highways proceed south for 14 km (9 miles) to the Burnt Flat Junction, where Highway 6 diverges south. |
Further east from Christina Lake, the Crowsnest travels for 47 km (29 miles) through [[Bonanza Pass]] to its junction with [[British Columbia provincial highway 3B|Highway 3B]] at Nancy Greene Lake, which is the cutoff to the ski town of [[Rossland, British Columbia|Rossland]]. It is another 26 km (16 miles) east to the junction with [[British Columbia provincial highway 22|Highway 22]] at [[Castlegar, British Columbia|Castlegar]], and another 2 km (1¼ miles) east to a junction with another stretch of Highway designated as 3A, also within Castlegar. Leaving Castlegar, the Crowsnest reaches its eastern junction with Highway 3B 26 km (16 miles) east. [[British Columbia provincial highway 6|Highway 6]] converges with the Crowsnest at [[Salmo, British Columbia|Salmo]], 11 km (7 miles) east of the 3B junction, and the two highways proceed south for 14 km (9 miles) to the Burnt Flat Junction, where Highway 6 diverges south. |
||
East of Burnt Flat, the Crowsnest heads through the [[Kootenay Pass]] on a stretch known as the Kootenay Skyway, or Salmo-Creston Skyway. 67 km (42 miles) east of Burnt Flat, the Crowsnest reaches the Town of [[Creston, British Columbia|Creston]], just past junctions with [[British Columbia provincial highway 21|Highway 21]] and Highway 3A. 40 km (25 miles) later, south of [[Yahk, British Columbia|Yahk]], [[British Columbia provincial highway 95|Highway 95]] merges onto the Crowsnest. The two highways share a common alignment for 72 km (46 miles) northeast along the [[Moyie River]] to a junction with [[British Columbia provincial highway 95A|Highway 95A]] at [[Cranbrook, British Columbia|Cranbrook]]. Another 6 km (4 miles) east, Highway 95 diverges north from the Crowsnest and [[British Columbia provincial highway 93|Highway 93]] merges onto the Crowsnest from the north. Highway 93 and the Crowsnest share a common alignment for the next 53 km (32 miles) southeast to [[Elko, British Columbia|Elko]], where Highway 93 diverges south. 31 km (19 miles) north of Elko, the Crowsnest reaches [[Fernie, British Columbia|Fernie]], then it goes north another 30 km (18 miles) to its junction with [[British Columbia provincial highway 43|Highway 43]] at [[Sparwood, British Columbia|Sparwood]], and another 19 km (11 miles) east, the highway reaches the boundary with Alberta at Crowsnest Pass. |
East of Burnt Flat, the Crowsnest heads through the [[Kootenay Pass]] on a stretch known as the Kootenay Skyway, or Salmo-Creston Skyway. 67 km (42 miles) east of Burnt Flat, the Crowsnest reaches the Town of [[Creston, British Columbia|Creston]], just past junctions with [[British Columbia provincial highway 21|Highway 21]] and Highway 3A. 40 km (25 miles) later, south of [[Yahk, British Columbia|Yahk]], [[British Columbia provincial highway 95|Highway 95]] merges onto the Crowsnest. The two highways share a common alignment for 72 km (46 miles) northeast along the [[Moyie River]] to a junction with [[British Columbia provincial highway 95A|Highway 95A]] at [[Cranbrook, British Columbia|Cranbrook]]. Another 6 km (4 miles) east, Highway 95 diverges north from the Crowsnest and [[British Columbia provincial highway 93|Highway 93]] merges onto the Crowsnest from the north. Highway 93 and the Crowsnest share a common alignment for the next 53 km (32 miles) southeast to [[Elko, British Columbia|Elko]], where Highway 93 diverges south. 31 km (19 miles) north of Elko, the Crowsnest reaches [[Fernie, British Columbia|Fernie]], then it goes north another 30 km (18 miles) to its junction with [[British Columbia provincial highway 43|Highway 43]] at [[Sparwood, British Columbia|Sparwood]], and another 19 km (11 miles) east, the highway reaches the boundary with Alberta at Crowsnest Pass. |
||
Revision as of 19:10, 16 January 2011
 |
File:Bc3.pngFile:Alberta Highway 3 (Crowsnest).png Crowsnest Highway | |
|---|---|
| Highway 3 | |
  | |
| Route information | |
| Length | 1,163 km (723 mi) |
| Existed | 1932–present |
| Major junctions | |
| West end |  Highway 1 near Hope, B.C. |
| East end |   Highway 1 / Highway 41A in Medicine Hat, Alberta |
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Specialized and rural municipalities | Pincher Creek No. 9 M.D., Willow Creek No. 26 M.D., Lethbridge County, Taber M.D., Forty Mile No. 8 County, Cypress County |
| Municipalities | Hope, Crowsnest Pass |
| Major cities | Castlegar, Cranbrook, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat |
| Towns | Princeton, Fort Macleod, Coalhurst, Coaldale, Taber, Bow Island |
| Villages | Cowley, Barnwell |
| Highway system | |
| Trans-Canada Highway British Columbia Provincial Highways Alberta Provincial Highways | |
| Template:Infobox road/BC browseTemplate:Infobox road/AB browse | |
.png){kind=link}
The Crowsnest Highway, also known as the Interprovincial or, in British Columbia, the Southern Trans-Provincial, is a 1,163 km (723 mile) long principal highway through the southern parts of British Columbia and Alberta, providing the shortest land connection between Vancouver and Medicine Hat. The highway, which is mostly two lanes, was officially incorporated in 1932, mainly following a mid-19th century gold rush trail originally traced out by an engineer named Edgar Dewdney. It takes its name from the Crowsnest Pass, the route the highway takes when crossing the Continental Divide between B.C. and Alberta. The highway is designated as Highway 3 for its entire length. The highway forms a concurrency with the Red Coat Trail between Fort Macleod and Lethbridge.
While not officially signed as a branch of the Trans-Canada Highway, it is part of the National Highway System and could be considered a southern route of the Trans-Canada. Individual sections have additional appellations, such as the Hope-Princeton Highway.
Route details
The Crowsnest Highway's total length in British Columbia is 837 km (520 miles), and its total length within Alberta is 326 km (202 miles). The Crowsnest Highway's western terminus is at Hope, B.C., where it branches off from Highway 1. The highway goes east for 7 km (4 miles) to its junction with Highway 5, then through Allison Pass and Manning Provincial Park for 127 km (79 miles) towards the Town of Princeton. In this stretch between Hope and Princeton, known locally as the Hope-Princeton Highway, there are several significant ascents. The first is the steep climb to the Hope Slide, followed later by the remainder of the climb up to Allison Pass at an elevation of 1,342m (4,473 ft). After the summit of Allison Pass, the road descends for 40 km (25 mi) before beginning another long climb up Sunday Summit (1,284m, 4,280 ft). Soon after Sunday Summit is the descent into Princeton, where Highway 5A begins.
After Princeton, the Crowsnest goes southeast for 67 km (42 miles), through Hedley, to the Village of Keremeos, where a junction with a length of highway designated as 3A is located, leading towards Penticton and Highway 97. Another 46 km (29 miles) southeast, and the Crowsnest reaches the Town of Osoyoos and a junction with Highway 97. The highway then proceeds to hug the Canada-U.S. border east through a stretch of switchbacks known as Anarchist Mountain, which is also the name of the upland rural community beyond the summit.
52 km (32 miles) east of Osoyoos, the Crowsnest reaches its junction with Highway 33 at Rock Creek, then the highway heads east for 70 km (44 miles) to its junction with Highway 41 at a location called Carson, just west of Grand Forks. Another 26 km (16 miles) east, passing through Grand Forks en route, the Crowsnest meets Highway 395 at the southern end of Christina Lake.
Further east from Christina Lake, the Crowsnest travels for 47 km (29 miles) through Bonanza Pass to its junction with Highway 3B at Nancy Greene Lake, which is the cutoff to the ski town of Rossland. It is another 26 km (16 miles) east to the junction with Highway 22 at Castlegar, and another 2 km (1¼ miles) east to a junction with another stretch of Highway designated as 3A, also within Castlegar. Leaving Castlegar, the Crowsnest reaches its eastern junction with Highway 3B 26 km (16 miles) east. Highway 6 converges with the Crowsnest at Salmo, 11 km (7 miles) east of the 3B junction, and the two highways proceed south for 14 km (9 miles) to the Burnt Flat Junction, where Highway 6 diverges south.
East of Burnt Flat, the Crowsnest heads through the Kootenay Pass on a stretch known as the Kootenay Skyway, or Salmo-Creston Skyway. 67 km (42 miles) east of Burnt Flat, the Crowsnest reaches the Town of Creston, just past junctions with Highway 21 and Highway 3A. 40 km (25 miles) later, south of Yahk, Highway 95 merges onto the Crowsnest. The two highways share a common alignment for 72 km (46 miles) northeast along the Moyie River to a junction with Highway 95A at Cranbrook. Another 6 km (4 miles) east, Highway 95 diverges north from the Crowsnest and Highway 93 merges onto the Crowsnest from the north. Highway 93 and the Crowsnest share a common alignment for the next 53 km (32 miles) southeast to Elko, where Highway 93 diverges south. 31 km (19 miles) north of Elko, the Crowsnest reaches Fernie, then it goes north another 30 km (18 miles) to its junction with Highway 43 at Sparwood, and another 19 km (11 miles) east, the highway reaches the boundary with Alberta at Crowsnest Pass.
Once into Alberta, the Crowsnest Highway goes east 16 km (10 miles) to the Bighorn Highway at Coleman, then 27 km (17 miles) east to its junction with Highway 22, another 20 km (12 miles) to its junction with Highway 6, then another 44 km (27 miles) to its junction with Highway 2 north, then proceeding 4 km (2½ miles) east into the Town of Fort Macleod and the Crowsnest's junction with Highway 2 south. After Fort Macleod, the Crowsnest goes 27 km (17 miles) east to Monarch. Highway 23 meets Highway 3 just east of Monarch. Another 21 km east (13 miles) is the City of Lethbridge, where the Crowsnest's only freeway segment is located. Highway 25 branches to the north just before the Lethbridge city limits, while Highway 5 (Mayor Magrath Drive) branches south from the Crowsnest Highway through the downtown core. 50 km (31 miles) east of Lethbridge, the Crowsnest arrives at Taber at the Crowsnest's junction with Highway 36, finally ending at the east junction with the Trans-Canada Highway at Medicine Hat, 115 km (72 miles) east-northeast.
List of exits
The following is a list of exits along the expressway and freeway portions of Highway 3, Crowsnest Highway.
Hope, British Columbia to Princeton, British Columbia
| District | Municipality | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 170 | Highway 1 north, Water Avenue | Eastbound only | |||
| 171 | 3 Avenue | Westbound only | |||
| 173 | Old Hope- Princeton Way | ||||
| 177 |  Highway 5 Coquihalla Highway, Highway 3, Crowsnest Highway
| ||||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
Castlegar, British Columbia
| District | Municipality | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BC 22, Columbia Ave. | |||||
| 20th St., 6th Ave. to BC 22 | Westbound only | ||||
 Highway 3A Castlegar Airport, Nelson
|
|||||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
Cranbrook, British Columbia
| District | Municipality | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Begin expressway at 22nd Street north | |||||
| 23rd Street N | At-grade intersection | ||||
| 30th Street N | At-grade intersection | ||||
| Highway 95A North, Cranbrook Airport, Kimberley | |||||
| Highway 95 / 93 North, Fort Steele, Invermere, Radium Hot Springs | Begin multiplex with Highway 93 | ||||
| Expressway ends | |||||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
Fort Macleod, Alberta, to Lethbridge, Alberta
Begin expressway east of Highway 810.
Exit- Highway 2 North
Begin multiplex with Highway 2.
Intersection- 19 St. W.
Expressway ends and continues as 23 St. and Jerry Potts Blvd.
Begin expressway at railroad crossing at Fort Macleod town limits.
Intersection- Highway 2 South
Intersection- 27 St., Township Road 92
Intersection- Range Road 254
Intersection- Range Road 253
Intersection- Range Road 252/Township Road 94
Intersection- Range Road 251
Intersection- Range Road 250/Pearce Rd.
Intersection- Range Road 245
Intersection- Range Road 244
Intersection- Long Bottom Rd.
Intersection- Range Road 242
Intersection- Range Road 241/Highway 3A
Intersection- Range Road 234
Exit- (Westbound) Highway 23
Intersection- Range Road 231 (Whitney Rd.)
Intersection- Highway 509, Kipp Rd.
Intersection- Township Road 94
Intersection- River Ridge Rd.
Expressway ends, freeway begins.
Exit- (Eastbound) Westside Dr. W. (Highway 3A)
Exit- (Eastbound) Highway 25, University Dr. W.
Exit- (Westbound) University Dr. W.
Exit- (Westbound) Highway 25 north
Exit- (Westbound) Highway 25 North
Exit- Bridge Dr. W. (Highway 3A)
Exit- (Westbound) Local Road
Exit- Oldman Rd.
Exit- (Eastbound) 5 Ave. N., Scenic Dr. N., Scenic Dr. S.
Exit- (Eastbound) 1 Ave. S.
Exit- (Westbound) Scenic Dr. S.
Exit- Stafford Dr. S.
Exit- (Westbound) 13 St. N.
Level Crossing- Industrial railway spur serving Ellison Flour Mill
Exit- (Eastbound) 19 St. S., 2 Ave. S. to 3 Ave. S.
Exit- Highway 5, Mayor Magrath Dr. S., 3 Ave. S.
Freeway ends, expressway begins.
intersection- 28 St. S.
Level Crossing- Canadian Pacific Railway branch to Coutts
Intersection- 1 Ave. S., 30 St. N.
Intersection, 34 St. S.
Intersection- 36 St. N., 36 St. S.
Exit (Eastbound)- Highway 512, 1 Ave. S.
Intersection- 43 St. N.
Expressway ends. Continues as a divided highway until just past Taber, where it continues as a two-lane highway before ending in Medicine Hat at Highway 1.
See also
- Dewdney Trail
- Kettle Valley Railway (southern mainline of the CPR)