Editing Trans-Canada Highway (section)

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=September 2017}}

=== Predecessor routes ===
Early on, much of the route of the Trans-Canada Highway was first explored in order to construct the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] in the late 19th century, a route which much of the mainline TCH route later ended up following.

The Trans-Canada Highway was not the first road across Canada. In British Columbia, the highway was predated by the [[Crowsnest Highway]], the [[Big Bend Highway]], and the [[Cariboo Highway]], all of which were constructed during the [[Great Depression in Canada|Great Depression]] era. Many of the earlier highways in British Columbia were largely gravel and had many frequent inland ferry crossings at wide rivers and lakes. In Alberta, the section between Calgary and Banff was predated by the Morley Trail (now Highway&nbsp;1A), which was driveable starting in the 1910s and paved in the 1930s. The first route over the Central Canadian Rockies to connect Calgary to British Columbia was the [[Banff–Windermere Highway|Banff–Windermere Parkway]], which was opened in 1922 and is now{{As of?|date=May 2024}} numbered as Highway&nbsp;93. Sections of road across the Prairies have also existed since the 1920s. A gravel road connection across northern Ontario (Highway&nbsp;17) was constructed starting in 1931. While this section was largely open by the late 1930s, it was not fully completed until 1951 (in large part due to [[World War II]] interrupting construction). However, despite the gap, vehicles could still cross the county by getting ferried around the relatively short section of incomplete highway by either rail or water, and Highway 11 was completed to Hearst from the east by 1937 and Nipigon by 1943.

=== Opening ===
The system was approved by the Trans-Canada Highway Act of 1949,<ref>{{cite web |title = Trans-Canada Highway Act |url = http://lois.justice.gc.ca/en/publaw/217522_25895.html |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110725133830/http://lois.justice.gc.ca/en/publaw/217522_25895.html |archive-date = July 25, 2011 |access-date = December 19, 2006 |publisher = Department of Justice Canada |id = R.S.C. 1970, c. T-12 }}</ref> with construction commencing in 1950.<ref>{{cite web |title = The Trans-Canada Highway |url = http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/backgrounders/b04-R007e.htm |publisher = [[Transport Canada]] |access-date = December 19, 2006 |archive-date = May 6, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070506102930/http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/backgrounders/b04-R007e.htm |url-status = live }}</ref> The highway officially opened in 1962, with the completion of the [[Rogers Pass (British Columbia)|Rogers Pass]] section of highway between [[Golden, British Columbia|Golden]] and [[Revelstoke, British Columbia|Revelstoke]]. This section of highway bypassed the original Big Bend Highway, the last remaining section of gravel highway on the route. Upon its original completion, the Trans-Canada Highway was the longest uninterrupted highway in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last = MacLeod |first = Donaldson |date = 2014 |title = The Trans-Canada Highway: A Major Link in Canada's Transportation System |url = http://conf.tac-atc.ca/english/annualconference/tac2014/s-32/macleod.pdf |access-date = March 10, 2016 |publisher = Transportation Association of Canada |archive-date = March 11, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160311012648/http://conf.tac-atc.ca/english/annualconference/tac2014/s-32/macleod.pdf |url-status = live }}</ref> Construction on other legs continued until 1971, when the last gap on Highway&nbsp;16 was completed in the Upper [[Fraser Valley]] east of [[Prince George, British Columbia|Prince George]], at which point the highway network was considered complete.

=== Since completion (1960–2000) ===
When the Trans-Canada Highway first opened, it was almost exclusively a two-lane route for its whole length across the country. While at the time it was considered a major improvement to the gravel roads and ferries it replaced, it was soon believed to be insufficient to handle the growing traffic volumes. In response, several provinces began to construct realignments, freeway widenings, and twin sections of highway in response to traffic flow and safety concerns.

In British Columbia's Lower Mainland, the Upper Levels Freeway alignment was opened in 1960 with the completion of the [[Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing|Second Narrows Crossing]], which allowed the Trans-Canada Highway to bypass downtown Vancouver's streets and the narrow [[Lions Gate Bridge]]. The four-lane Upper Levels Freeway was relatively-crudely constructed, with narrow lanes, low overpasses, and no proper merge ramps. It remains in this state in the present day{{When|date=May 2024}}. Between 1962 and 1964, Highway&nbsp;1 was rerouted onto a new four-lane freeway bypass between [[Vancouver]] and [[Chilliwack]]. This section of highway was originally part of British Columbia's own [[400-series highways (British Columbia)|400 series of highways]], until the designation was replaced by Highway&nbsp;1. A freeway alignment on the Trans-Canada Highway between Chilliwack and [[Hope, British Columbia|Hope]] opened in 1986. The opening of the [[Cassiar Tunnel]] in 1990 bypassed the last sets of signal lights in Vancouver, rendering the whole alignment of the Trans-Canada Highway through the Lower Mainland a freeway. All bypassed sections of the highway were absorbed into various urban and rural road networks. The older freeways in the Lower Mainland were largely built as a parkway design, with wide, forested medians and low overpasses (a road configuration that was common across North America at the time). After the opening of the [[Coquihalla Highway]] in 1986, the Trans-Canada Highway through the [[Fraser Canyon]] received less traffic, because the freeway bypass shortened the drive between Hope and Kamloops by 90 minutes. However, the route was retained as part of the Trans-Canada Highway system, and is considered a scenic route and a valuable part of the Fraser Country Circle Tour.<ref>{{Cite web |date = November 9, 2023 |title = Fraser Country Circle Tour |url = https://www.travel-british-columbia.com/tours-drives/fraser-country/ |access-date = November 9, 2023 |website = Travel British Columbia |archive-date = November 10, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231110015122/https://www.travel-british-columbia.com/tours-drives/fraser-country/ |url-status = live }}</ref> The opening of the Coquihalla was also an economic disaster for many of the towns along the Fraser Canyon section of the Trans-Canada Highway, since most of the travel and tourism business along the route quickly dried up when most of the traffic took the new highway. The towns continue to be largely deprived of wealth, and some are close to being abandoned. On the other hand, [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]], located midway up the new Coquihalla highway, ended up booming, and continues{{As of?|date=May 2024}} to grow as a tourism and travel centre. The Coquihalla project also realigned Highway&nbsp;1 (TCH) to a new freeway bypass around [[Kamloops]]. Plans for a freeway to bypass or eliminate [[traffic congestion]] and road hazards along the heavily-travelled route from Victoria to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island were cancelled during the [[recession]] that followed the [[1987 stock market crash]].

In Alberta, between 1964 and 1972, the Trans-Canada Highway was completely rerouted from its former two-lane alignment along the [[Bow River]] to a new, more direct, four-lane freeway between Banff and Calgary, resulting in the bypassing of several towns, such as [[Canmore, Alberta|Canmore]] and [[Cochrane, Alberta|Cochrane]]. Prior to this change, one of the first [[traffic circle]]s in Canada existed on Highway&nbsp;1 at the "gateway" junction for Banff from at least as early as the 1950s. The current interchange on Highway&nbsp;1 for Banff Avenue now occupies the site.{{When|date=May 2024}} In the rest of Banff National Park, much of the predecessor Highway&nbsp;1 parkway was bypassed by a new two-lane route in the 1960s. The original route between Banff and [[Lake Louise, Alberta|Lake Louise]] remains as the [[Alberta Highway 1A|Bow Valley Parkway]] and Lake Louise Drive, while a section over [[Kicking Horse Pass]] was abandoned and is now part of the [[Great Divide Trail]]. Between 1973 and 1990, the highway was twinned from Calgary to the Saskatchewan Border. In 1970, plans were made for a six-to-eight-lane freeway to carry the Trans-Canada Highway though the heart of North Calgary, but the plan was soon dropped due to [[Freeway revolts|citizen outcry]].

Between Ottawa and the Ontario–Quebec border, the Trans-Canada Highway designation was taken from the two-lane Highway&nbsp;17 and applied to the existing Highway&nbsp;417 freeway in 1997–98. On April 1, 1997, the [[Ministry of Transportation of Ontario]] (MTO) transferred the responsibility of maintenance and upkeep along {{cvt|14.2|km}} of Highway&nbsp;17 east of "the split" with Highway&nbsp;417 to Trim Road (Regional Road&nbsp;57) to the [[Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton]], a process commonly referred to as ''downloading''. The Regional Municipality then designated the road as [[Regional Road&nbsp;174]]. Despite the protests of the region that the route served a provincial purpose, a second round of transfers saw Highway&nbsp;17 within Ottawa downloaded entirely on January 1, 1998, adding an additional {{convert|12.8|km|abbr=on}} to the length of Regional Road&nbsp;174.<ref>{{cite report |url = http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2004/10-13/trc/ACS2004-CCS-TRC-0009.htm |title = Responsibilities and Obligations Re: Highway&nbsp;174 |author = Department of Public Works and Services |date = September 14, 2004 |publisher = City of Ottawa |access-date = February 14, 2011 |archive-date = May 26, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110526231933/http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2004/10-13/trc/ACS2004-CCS-TRC-0009.htm |url-status = live }}</ref> The highway was also downloaded within the [[United Counties of Prescott and Russell]], where it was redesignated as County Road&nbsp;17.<ref>{{cite report |url = http://www.sdcpr-prcdc.ca/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&task=download&id=13&Itemid=208&lang=en |title = Economic Development Plan – Final Report |author = Millier Dickinson Blais |date = February 16, 2010 |publisher = Prescott-Russell Community Development Corporation |pages = 41–42 |access-date = March 10, 2011 |section = 4.2 Linking to the Megaregion |archive-date = July 6, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110706202749/http://www.sdcpr-prcdc.ca/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&task=download&id=13&Itemid=208&lang=en |url-status = live }}</ref> The result of these transfers was the truncation of Highway&nbsp;17 at the western end of Highway&nbsp;417.<ref>{{cite map |title = Ontario Road Map |cartography = Geomatics Office |publisher = Ministry of Transportation |year = 1999<!-- Note: Compiled to January 1, 1999 --> }}</ref> 1990 saw the opening of the two-lane [[Kenora Bypass]], providing through traffic with a way to avoid the congested town.

Starting in the 1960s, Quebec began to build its [[Autoroutes of Quebec|Autoroute]] network. Many sections of Trans-Canada Highway were widened to freeway standards during that era of highway construction.

Starting in 1987, New Brunswick began to widen its section of TCH to four lanes. Work to make the route a full freeway began in the late 1990s and was completed in 2007.

The {{Convert|13|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} [[Confederation Bridge]] connecting PEI to New Brunswick opened in 1997. Replacing the ferry that previously serviced that route, it was hailed as a major accomplishment.

=== Recent changes (2000–present) ===
In 2000 and 2001, [[Transport Canada]] considered funding an infrastructure project to have the full Trans-Canada system converted to limited-access divided highways. Although construction funding was made available to some provinces for portions of the system, the federal government ultimately decided to not pursue a comprehensive limited-access highway conversion. Opposition to funding the limited-access widening was due to low traffic levels on parts of the Trans-Canada Highway.

Prior to the start of the [[Great Recession]] in 2008, the highway underwent some changes through the [[Rocky Mountains]] from [[Banff National Park]] to [[Golden, British Columbia|Golden]], British Columbia. A major piece of this project was completed on August 30, 2007, with the [[Park Bridge (British Columbia)|new Park Bridge]] and Ten Mile Hill sections opening up {{cvt|16|km}} of new four-lane highway. Other smaller four-lane widening projects on the Trans-Canada Highway in the interior of British Columbia were also built around the same time. As part of the [[Gateway Program (Vancouver)|Gateway Program]], {{cvt|37|km}} of congested four-lane Highway&nbsp;1 freeway in Metro Vancouver were widened to an eight-lane buildout starting in 2012. This project continues into the present{{As of?|date=May 2024}}, with the current goal of rebuilding the freeway to a minimum six-lane layout from Langley to Abbotsford by 2025.

The twinning of the highway in Alberta's [[Banff National Park]] continued with four-lane highway opening as far as the [[Alberta Highway&nbsp;93|Highway&nbsp;93]] junction north of [[Lake Louise, Alberta|Lake Louise]] by the winter of 2010. [[Parks Canada]] completed twinning the final {{cvt|8.5|km|1}} of Highway&nbsp;1 between Lake Louise and the British Columbia border, with the new alignment opened to traffic on June 12, 2014,<ref name="PCtwinningcomplete">{{cite news |last = Schmidt |first = Colleen |date = June 13, 2014 |title = Crews Complete Twinning of Trans-Canada Through Banff National Park |publisher = CTV Calgary |url = http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/crews-complete-twinning-of-trans-canada-through-banff-national-park-1.1868296 |access-date = June 13, 2014 |archive-date = June 17, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140617224756/http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/crews-complete-twinning-of-trans-canada-through-banff-national-park-1.1868296 |url-status = live }}</ref> making the whole length of Alberta's main Trans-Canada Highway route a minimum four lanes. [[Stoney Trail]] began construction in 2005, and was usable as a bypass around Calgary when its northeastern section opened in 2010. Although not officially part of the Trans-Canada Highway system, Stoney Trail plays a critical role in providing through traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway with a way around the city.

During the 2000s, much of the Trans-Canada Highway through Saskatchewan and Manitoba was twinned. In 2019, the [[Regina Bypass]] opened, resulting in the Trans-Canada Highway being realigned around the city and bypassing a section of heavily-signalized arterial road on [[Victoria Avenue (Regina, Saskatchewan)|Victoria Avenue]].

The 2010s saw changes to other routes in the Trans-Canada Highway system as well. [[Ontario Highway 400|Ontario Highway&nbsp;400]] began to be extended towards Sudbury, replacing [[Ontario Highway 69|Highway&nbsp;69]] and resulting in a freeway alignment for part of the Southern Ontario Trans-Canada Highway Route. Work on this project is continuing, with almost {{cvt|25|km}} of freeway currently{{When|date=May 2024}} under construction.

Edmonton is currently{{When|date=May 2024}} attempting to widen its urban section of [[Yellowhead Trail|Highway&nbsp;16]] to a six-lane freeway. Large amounts of Highway&nbsp;16 in Alberta were twinned during the 2000s.

Despite these many widenings, over half of the mainline Trans-Canada highway still{{As of?|date=May 2024}} remains in its original two-lane state, and only about 15% of the mainline's length is composed of freeway comparable to that of the [[Interstate Highway System]].

In 2012, a series of free public [[electric vehicle charging stations]] were installed along the main route of the highway by a private company, Sun Country Highway, permitting electric vehicle travel across the entire length, as demonstrated by the company's president, Kent Rathwell, in a publicity trip from St John's, NL, to Victoria, BC, in a [[Tesla Roadster (2008)|Tesla Roadster]]. {{as of|2012}}, this made the TCH the longest electric-vehicle-ready highway in the world.<ref>{{cite news |last = Caulfield |first = Jane |date = December 11, 2012 |title = Electrifying Trip Along the Trans-Canada Highway Pit Stops in Saskatchewan |work = Metro |url = http://metronews.ca/news/regina/474005/electrifying-trip-along-the-trans-canada-highway-pit-stops-in-saskatchewan/ |url-status = dead |access-date = April 12, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131216212145/http://metronews.ca/news/regina/474005/electrifying-trip-along-the-trans-canada-highway-pit-stops-in-saskatchewan/ |archive-date = December 16, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title = World's Longest Greenest Highway Project: Item Details |url = https://suncountryhighway.ca/wlghp/ |access-date = July 11, 2019 |publisher = Sun Country Highway |archive-date = June 25, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230625092131/https://suncountryhighway.ca/wlghp/ |url-status = live }}</ref>