Kicking Horse
Canyon Project

2004 - 2024 (4 phases); Combined Project Value: $927 Million

http://www.kickinghorsecanyon.ca/

Project Summary:

The Kicking Horse Canyon Project, undertaken with federal funding assistance, involved upgrading approximately 26 kilometres of the Trans-Canada Highway from the junction of Highway 95 in Golden to the western boundary of Yoho National Park to a modern four lane standard, including bridge replacements.

The project, which included the construction of several new and replacement bridges, was undertaken in several phases. Phase 1 involved the construction of a new Yoho (5 Mile) Bridge and approaches. Phase 2 replaced the Park (10-Mile) Bridge and constructed nearly 6 kilometres of highway. Phase 3 consisted of two segments at the east end and near the west end of the project. Phase 4, comprising the difficult canyon section, was completed in July 2024.

Activities: As part of the owner’s engineer team, Jack Stuempel and Associates provided advice and services in stakeholder relations and public engagement to the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and more recently, Transportation Investment Corporation.  This included strategic management and support in:

• • Public and stakeholder engagement and communications strategy development

  • Open houses and information sessions (including notification and advertising)

  • Facilitating communications with key stakeholders, particularly with a view to minimizing and mitigating construction impacts

  • Municipal Council presentations

  • Website and social media content development

  • Media relations support

  • Project and issues management

  • Province's oversight of Design-Build Contractor's communications and enagement obligations

Results: Local, provincial, national and international awareness and support for the Kicking Horse Canyon Project was high.  Input was solicited and applied in the design process, and an ongoing dialogue was maintained with a liaison committee representing a cross-section of the local community and other key stakeholders. Community leaders and public comments have described the engagement & communications program for the Kicking Horse Canyon Project as a model to be emulated by other transportation projects.