Jump to content

Alberta Highway 16

Route map:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Highway 16 marker Highway 16 marker
Highway 16
Yellowhead Highway
Trans-Canada Highway
Map
Highway 16 highlighted in red, former sections highlighted in brown
Route information
Maintained by the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors
Length633.5 km[1] (393.6 mi)
Major junctions
West end Highway 16 (TCH) at British Columbia border at Yellowhead Pass
Major intersections
East end Highway 16 (TCH) at Saskatchewan border in Lloydminster
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
Specialized and rural municipalitiesJasper, I.D. No. 12, Yellowhead, Parkland, Strathcona, I.D. No. 13, Lamont, Minburn, Vermilion River
Major citiesSpruce Grove, Edmonton, Sherwood Park, Lloydminster
TownsHinton, Edson, Vegreville, Vermilion
VillagesWabamun, Innisfree, Mannville, Kitscoty
Highway system
← Highway 15→ Highway 16A

Alberta Provincial Highway No. 16, commonly referred to as Highway 16, is a major east–west highway in central Alberta, Canada, connecting Jasper to Lloydminster via Edmonton. It forms a portion of the Yellowhead Highway, a major interprovincial route of the Trans-Canada Highway system that stretches from Masset, British Columbia, to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, near Winnipeg. Highway 16 spans approximately 634 km (394 mi) from Alberta's border with British Columbia in the west to its border with Saskatchewan in the east.[2][3] As of 2010, all but less than 96 km (60 mi) of the route was divided, with a minimum of two lanes in each direction.[3] It is designated a core route in Canada's National Highway System.[4]

Route description

[edit]

Jasper National Park

[edit]

British Columbia Highway 16 becomes Alberta Highway 16 as it crosses the Continental Divide and Yellowhead Pass into Alberta, entering Jasper National Park. It travels in an easterly direction through the Municipality of Jasper until it reaches the intersection with Highway 93 (Icefields Parkway) and the west access to the Jasper townsite. East of Highway 93, the highway turns to the north, passes the east access to the Jasper townsite, and continues in a northeast direction along the Athabasca River through Improvement District No. 12. The segment of Highway 16 through Jasper National Park is maintained by the Government of Canada.[5]

Jasper National Park to Edmonton

[edit]
Westbound Highway 16 in Hinton

Upon exiting Jasper National Park, Highway 16 travels through the rural municipalities of Yellowhead County and Parkland County and is maintained by Alberta Transportation until it reaches Edmonton. The highway is a two-lane, undivided highway for 19 km (12 mi) where it becomes a four-lane, divided highway.[1] The highway continues northeast through the Town of Hinton until it reaches the locality of Obed, where it continues east and crosses Obed Summit, the highest point on Yellowhead Highway.[6] The highway passes through the Town of Edson, where the highway splits into parallel one-streets, with eastbound traffic following 2 Avenue and westbound traffic following 4 Avenue.[1] It continues east where it passes by the Hamlets of Niton Junction, Wildwood, Evansburg and Entwistle; through the Hamlet of Gainford and north of Wabamun Lake where it passes by the Summer Village of Seba Beach, Hamlet of Fallis, Hamlet of Wabamun, and Hamlet of Kapasiwin before intersecting Highway 43. The highway intersects Highway 16A (Parkland Highway), which prior to 1997 was part of Highway 16,[7] and passes through the Town of Stony Plain, City of Spruce Grove, and serves as an alternate route into Edmonton. The present alignment bypasses Stony Plain and serves as the northern boundary of Spruce Grove. Highway 16 is part of the CANAMEX Corridor between Highway 43 and its western intersection with Anthony Henday Drive.

Edmonton

[edit]
Main article: Yellowhead Trail

Highway 16 passes through Edmonton as a major expressway called Yellowhead Trail, maintained by the City of Edmonton. Most sections of Yellowhead Trail are free-flowing, while a few intersections still exist from 127 Street to 66 Street as of 2024. The city closed access to Yellowhead Trail from 89 Street in 2019, marking the first milestone of the Freeway Conversion Program.

Edmonton to Lloydminster

[edit]
Exit 400C Highway 16 east Lloydminster, Broadmoor Blvd

Highway 16 exits Edmonton and enters Strathcona County just west of its eastern intersection with Anthony Henday Drive (Highway 216). The highway travels east and serves as the division between Edmonton and the Urban Service Area of Sherwood Park. The highway continues east past the Hamlet of Ardrossan, through Elk Island National Park, and past the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. The highway then passes through the rural municipalities of Lamont County, County of Minburn, and the County of Vermilion River. The highway continues in a general southeast direction by Town of Mundare and the Town of Vegreville, where Highway 16A passes directly through the Vegreville. The highway continues by Hamlet of Lavoy, Hamlet of Ranfurly, Village of Innisfree, Hamlet of Minburn, Village of Mannville, Town of Vermilion, Village of Kitscoty, and Hamlet of Blackfoot. The highway is maintained by Alberta Transportation, with the exception of the segment through Elk Island National Park which is maintained by the Government of Canada.[5] Highway 16 passes through the City of Lloydminster along Ray Nelson Drive (44 Street) and is maintained by the City of Lloydminster.[1][8] The highway is an arterial street and crosses into Saskatchewan at its intersection with Highway 17 (50 Avenue) where it becomes Saskatchewan Highway 16.

History

[edit]
Alberta Highway 16 and Highway 21 interchange

The Yellowhead Highway is named after the Yellowhead Pass in the Rocky Mountains. During the early 1800s, Pierre Bostonais, an Iroquois-Métis trapper with streaks of blonde in his hair, worked for the Hudson's Bay Company. Because of his hair colour, French-speaking voyageurs referred to him as "Tête Jaune", literally "Yellow Head". By 1819, Bostonais acted as a guide for the company and had explored a route down the Fraser River to the present city of Prince George.[9] Nearly a century later, the Grand Trunk Pacific (GTP) and Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) constructed lines that the Yellowhead Highway later paralleled.[10] The two lines between Evansburg, Alberta, and Red Pass Junction were combined into a joint route in 1917, with portions of both lines abandoned. The GTP and CNoR both became part of the new Canadian National Railway (CNR) by 1924.

Following World War I, as automobile use increased exponentially, CNR surveyor Fred Driscoll and Edmonton Automobile and Good Roads Association president formed a committee lobbying for the creation of the Yellowhead Highway. Driscoll believed the abandoned railway bed would be an ideal base for a road. The Edmonton Automobile Association offered a gold medal to the first person to travel from Edmonton to Victoria through the gap. Charles Neiymer and Frank Silverthorne left in 4×4 on June 17, 1922. The following week, George Gordon and J. Sims departed Edmonton in a Ford Model T, following the same route. On July 4, both pairs arrived in Victoria and were each awarded gold medals.[10]

However, it would take until World War II for any improvements to be made this overland route. The displacement of many Japanese-Canadians from the Pacific coast to internment camps in the interior led to some developments. 30 km (19 mi) of road was constructed along the railway bed, and an additional 40 km (25 mi) through steep terrain. By 1944, the Tote Road was opened through Jasper and into the Fraser Valley.[10]

In August 1948, a motorcade was organized as a demonstration of the need for the highway. The Trans-Canada Highway Act was enacted in 1949, providing a 90% subsidy to upgrade selected routes to modern standards. However, the Tote Highway was not included under this subsidy.[10] During the same time frame, the Trans Mountain Oil Pipe Line Company began looking at the Tote Road as a potential route for a pipeline between Edmonton and Vancouver. Construction began in 1952, and largely resulted in the destruction of the road along the pipeline's path.[10]

Gradually, work progressed to reconstruct the highway. Elsewhere, the main route of the Trans-Canada Highway was completed in 1957.The Yellowhead Highway became eligible for federal funding soon thereafter.[11] By 1969, the Tote Road was generally rebuilt and paved. On August 15, 1970, British Columbia Premier W. A. C. Bennett officially opened the Yellowhead Highway.[12]

Future

[edit]

Alberta Transportation has conducted long-term studies to twin Highway 16 between Jasper National Park and Highway 40[13] and freeway upgrades both west and east of Edmonton.[14][15] Highway bypass alignments have also been planned for Hinton, Edson, and Lloydminster, all of which have been designated as Highway 16X.[2][15]

Edmonton has plans to convert Yellowhead Trail to a full freeway by adding interchanges at 127 Street and 121 Street and a partial interchange at 66 Street while a frontage road system will run from 156 Street to at least St. Albert Trail. An interchange at 149 Street was considered but was scrapped in favour of the frontage road system for cost and land reasons. Edmonton is widening the freeway from 50 Street to city limits, which is currently two lanes in each direction, to three lanes in each direction, connecting them to the three-lane twin bridges over the North Saskatchewan River – the Beverly Bridge and Clover Bar Bridge. Construction is underway and is expected to be completed by 2026.[16]

Major intersections

[edit]

The following is a list of major intersections along Alberta Highway 16 from west to east, including exit numbers where applied.[2][3]

Rural/specialized municipalityLocationkm[1]miExitDestinationsNotes
Municipality of Jasper
(Jasper National Park)		​0.00.0 Highway 16 (TCH/YH) west – Prince George, KamloopsContinental Divide; continuation into British Columbia
Yellowhead Pass – 1,131 m (3,711 ft)
3.72.3West gate of Jasper National Park
Jasper24.615.3 Highway 93 south (Icefields Parkway) / Connaught Drive – Lake Louise, Banff
25.816.0 Highway 93A south / Hazel Avenue
28.817.9Connaught Drive / Cottonwood Creek Road
​30.719.1Maligne Lake Road – Jasper Park Lodge, Maligne Lake
I.D. No. 12
(Jasper National Park)		​46.629.0Crosses Athabasca River
Pocahontas69.443.1Miette Hot Springs Road – Miette Hot Springs
​76.447.5East gate of Jasper National Park
Yellowhead County​96.660.0 Highway 40 north (Big Horn Highway) – Grande Cache, Grande PrairieWest end of Hwy 40 concurrency
Hinton98.561.2 Highway 40 south (Big Horn Highway) – CadominEast end of Hwy 40 concurrency
103.264.1Switzer Drive – Hinton Valley District
​125.277.8Obed Summit – 1,163.9 m (3,819 ft)
179.5111.5180 Highway 47 south – RobbEastbound grade separated; westbound at-grade; future Highway 947 north
Edson186.4–
191.2		115.8–
118.8		One-way pair
193.1120.0 Highway 748 north (25 Street)
​196.5122.1Crosses McLeod River
221.7137.8 Highway 32 north – Peers, Whitecourt
Nojack247.4153.7 Highway 751 north – MacKay
​258.0160.3 Highway 753 south – Cynthia, Lodgepole
Wildwood270.7168.2Range Road 92A
​276.9172.1 Highway 16A east – Evansburg, Entwistle
279.5173.7 Highway 22 north (Cowboy Trail) – MayerthorpeWest end of Hwy 22 concurrency
Evansburg285.2177.2UAR 115 north (Range Road 75)
↑ / ↓286.5178.0Crosses Pembina River
Parkland CountyEntwistle287.5178.6289 Highway 22 south (Cowboy Trail) – Drayton Valley
Highway 16A west – Entwistle		Interchange; east end of Hwy 22 concurrency
​296.0183.9 Highway 757 north – Magnolia, Sangudo
Gainford301.1187.1Range Road 62
​304.4189.1306 Highway 31 south to Highway 759 south – Seba Beach, Isle LakeInterchange
314.0195.1 Highway 765 north – Darwell
Wabamun322.7200.5324WabamunInterchange
​325.7202.4327Kapasiwin, Wabamun Lake Provincial ParkInterchange; former Highway 30 south
Manly Corner338.4210.3 Highway 770 south – Carvel, Warburg
338.8210.5340 Highway 43 north – Whitecourt, Grande Prairie, Peace RiverInterchange; access to Alaska Highway and Mackenzie Highway; west end of CANAMEX Corridor (follows Hwy 43 north)
​343.0213.1344 Highway 16A east (Parkland Highway) – Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, Edmonton City CentreEastbound exit and westbound entrance
353.5219.7355 Highway 779 – Stony Plain, CalahooInterchange; Fifth Meridian, 114° Longitude
Spruce Grove357.9222.4360Campsite RoadInterchange; known as Jennifer Heil Way inside Spruce Grove city limits
359.4223.3Calahoo Road (Highway 788)Intersection closed; former alignement
361.1224.4363Century RoadInterchange
​366.1227.5368 Highway 44 north – Villeneuve, WestlockInterchange
Acheson369.1229.3371 Highway 60 south (Devonian Way) – DevonInterchange; truck bypass to Highway 2 south
City of Edmonton374.0232.4376Winterburn Road (215 Street)Interchange
375.9233.6378 Anthony Henday Drive (Highway 216) – Cold Lake, Fort McMurray, CalgaryInterchange; Hwy 216 exit 25; east end of CANAMEX Corridor (follows Hwy 216 south)
377.4234.5379184 Street – St. AlbertInterchange
379.0235.5381170 Street – St. Albert, West Edmonton MallInterchange
380.8236.6383156 Street – St. AlbertInterchange
383.0238.0381 St. Albert Trail (Highway 2 north) – St. Albert, AthabascaInterchange
384.0238.6127 StreetInterchange under construction
387.3240.7389 97 Street (Highway 28 north) – Cold Lake, Fort McMurrayInterchange
388.9241.739182 Street – NorthlandsInterchange
390.0242.3392Fort Road / Wayne Gretzky Drive – NorthlandsInterchange
390.7242.866 Street
392.5243.9394 50 Street (Highway 15 north) – Fort Saskatchewan, Fort McMurrayInterchange
395.0245.4397118 Avenue / Victoria TrailInterchange
395.8245.9Crosses North Saskatchewan River
Beverly Bridge (eastbound) and Clover Bar Bridge (westbound)
396.4246.3400Hayter Road / 17 Street NWInterchange; signed as exit 400A
Strathcona County–Edmonton boundarySherwood Park396.4–
399.4		246.3–
248.2		 Anthony Henday Drive (Highway 216) – Cold Lake, Fort McMurray, CalgaryInterchange; Hwy 216 exit 54; eastbound signed as exit 400A; westbound signed as exit 400B (north) and 400C (south)
399.4248.2Broadmoor Boulevard / 17 Street NEInterchange; eastbound signed as exit 400B; westbound signed as exit 400C
401.0249.2403Sherwood Drive / Range Road 232Interchange
Strathcona County402.6250.2405Clover Bar Road / Range Road 231Interchange
Bremner404.2251.2406 Highway 21 – Camrose, Fort SaskatchewanInterchange; eastbound signed as exits 406A (south) and 406B (north)
Ardrossan410.7255.2413 Highway 824 southInterchange
​415.6258.2 Highway 830 – Josephburg
I.D. No. 13
(Elk Island National Park)		​423.7263.3West end of Elk Island National Park
431.1267.9Elk Island ParkwayTo Highway 831 north
433.6269.4East end of Elk Island National Park
Lamont County​443.4275.5 Highway 834 – Chipman, Tofield
Mundare464.5288.6 Highway 15 west – Chipman, Lamont, Fort Saskatchewan
Highway 855 – Andrew, Holden, Ryley
County of Minburn No. 27​475.3295.3 Highway 631 east
Vegreville479.2297.8481 Highway 16A east (50 Avenue) – VegrevilleEastbound exit and westbound entrance
488.1303.3 Highway 857 – Bruce, Willingdon
490.0304.5492 Highway 16A west (50 Avenue) – VegrevilleWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
​506.2314.5 Highway 36 (Veterans Memorial Highway) – Viking, Two HillsInterchange proposed (no construction timeline)[17]
Ranfurly515.2320.1UAR 199 north (Range Road 122A)
​526.3327.0 Highway 870 – Innisfree, Morecambe, Kinsella
539.6335.3UAR 216 north (Range Road 102) – Minburn
Mannville553.1343.7 Highway 881 – Irma, Myrnam, St. Paul
County of Vermilion RiverVermilion574.4356.9577 Highway 41 (Buffalo Trail) – Elk Point, Cold Lake, WainwrightInterchange
​595.0369.7 Highway 893 – Islay, Dewberry
Kitscoty610.7379.5 Highway 897 – Marwayne, Paradise Valley
City of Lloydminster631.6392.562 AvenueBypass route to Hwy 17
633.5393.6 50 Avenue (Highway 17) – Onion Lake, Macklin
Highway 16 (TCH/YH) east – The Battlefords, SaskatoonContinuation into Saskatchewan
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Footnotes

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Highway 16 in Alberta" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "2015 Provincial Highway 1-216 Progress Chart" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. March 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Alberta Official Road Map (Map) (2010 ed.). Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation. § J–2, J–3, I–3, I-4, I–5, I–6, I–7, J–7, I–8, and J–8.
  4. ^ "National Highway System". Transport Canada. December 13, 2009. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "The Trans-Canada Highway: Backgrounder". Transport Canada. January 4, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  6. ^ "Obed Summit". Waymarking.com. January 27, 2010. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  7. ^ "Highways 16 and 16X Renumbered to Provide Greater Consistency". 2009-09-10. Government of Alberta. June 4, 1997.
  8. ^ Gibson, Chad; Crawford, Murray (September 24, 2010). "Lloydminster loses prominent figure". Lloydminster Meridian Booster. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  9. ^ "History of The Yellowhead Highway" (PDF). Trans Canada Yellowhead Highway Association. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  10. ^ a b c d e Waugh, Jeff (April 12, 2009). "Jasper National Park History: The Yellowhead Highway". Jasper National Park. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  11. ^ "Saskatchewan's Highway Network". Department of Highways. Saskatchewan Government. Archived from the original on February 14, 2007. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  12. ^ Anderson, Frank W. (1998). The Yellowhead Trail in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: Frank W. Anderson. p. 105.
  13. ^ "West Provincial Highway Projects". Highway 16. Government of Alberta. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  14. ^ "Edmonton & Area Provincial Highway Projects". Highway 16. Government of Alberta. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  15. ^ a b "East Provincial Highway Projects". Highway 16. Government of Alberta. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  16. ^ Edmonton, City of (November 27, 2018). "Yellowhead Trail Freeway Conversion". www.edmonton.ca. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  17. ^ "Highway 16 / Highway 36 Functional Plan Study" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. Al-Terra Engineering. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
[edit]
KML file (edit • help)
Template:Attached KML/Alberta Highway 16
KML is from Wikidata
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alberta Highway 16.

Yellowhead Highway
Previous route
BC Highway 16 marker BC Highway 16 		Highway 16 marker Highway 16 Next route
SK Highway 16 marker SK Highway 16
Trans-Canada Highway
Previous route
BC Highway 16 marker BC Highway 16 		Highway 16 marker Highway 16 Next route
SK Highway 16 marker SK Highway 16
Retrieved from "http://en.wiki.x.io/w/index.php?title=Alberta_Highway_16&oldid=1242510477"