British Columbia Highway 16

Last updated

BC-16 (TCH).svg BC-16 (Yellowhead).svg

Highway 16

Yellowhead Highway
Trans-Canada Highway
British Columbia Highway 16
Highway 16 highlighted in red.
Route information
Maintained by British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Length1,173 km (729 mi)
Existed1941–present
Haida Gwaii segment
Length101 km [1]  (63 mi)
North end Masset
South endBritish Columbia G-050-5.svg BC Ferries dock in Skidegate
Mainland segment
Length1,072 km [1]  (666 mi)
West endBritish Columbia G-050-5.svg BC Ferries dock in Prince Rupert
Major intersectionsBC-113.svg Hwy 113 in Terrace
BC-37.svg Hwy 37 south in Terrace
BC-37.svg Hwy 37 north in Kitwanga
BC-118.svg Hwy 118 in Topley
BC-35.svg Hwy 35 in Burns Lake
BC-27.svg Hwy 27 near Vanderhoof
BC-97.svg Hwy 97 in Prince George
BC-5 (Yellowhead).svg Hwy 5 (YH) near Tête Jaune Cache
East end Alberta border
continues as Alberta Highway 16.svg Hwy 16 (TCH)
Location
Country Canada
Province British Columbia
Highway system
    ← BC-15.svg Hwy 15 → BC-17.svg Hwy 17

    Highway 16 is a highway in British Columbia, Canada. It is an important section of the Yellowhead Highway, a part of the Trans-Canada Highway that runs across Western Canada. The highway closely follows the path of the northern B.C. alignment of the Canadian National Railway (CN). The number "16" was first given to the highway in 1941, and originally, the route that the highway took was more to the north of today's highway, and it was not as long as it is now. Highway 16 originally ran from New Hazelton east to Aleza Lake. In 1947, Highway 16's western end was moved from New Hazelton to the coastal city of Prince Rupert, and in 1953, the highway was re-aligned to end at Prince George. In 1969, further alignment east into Yellowhead Pass was opened to traffic after being constructed up through 1968 and raised to all-weather standards in 1969. Highway 16's alignment on Haida Gwaii was commissioned in 1983 [2] and is connected to the mainland segment via BC Ferries route #11.

    Contents

    A series of murders and disappearances has given the stretch between Prince Rupert and Prince George the name Highway of Tears.

    Route description

    Haida Gwaii section

    The 101 km (63 mi) segment of the 1,347-kilometre-long (837 mi) BC highway begins in the west in the village of Masset, on the northern coast of Graham Island. Proceeding south, the highway goes 38 km (24 mi) to the inlet town of Port Clements. Winding its way along the boundary of Naikoon Provincial Park, Highway 16 goes south for 27 km (17 mi) before reaching the community of Tlell. 36 km (22 mi) south of Tlell, Highway 16 reaches Skidegate, where its Haida Gwaii section terminates.

    Mainland section

    BC Ferries then takes Highway 16 across the Hecate Strait for 172 km (107 mi) due northeast to its landing at Prince Rupert.

    Highway 16 heading west towards Prince Rupert from Terrace BC-hwy-16-pr-terrace.jpg
    Highway 16 heading west towards Prince Rupert from Terrace

    From Prince Rupert, Highway 16 begins its winding route east through the Coast Mountain Ranges. Following the Skeena River, the highway travels for 151 km (94 mi) to the city of Terrace. Highway 37 merges onto Highway 16 from north of Highway 16, at the Kitwanga junction. [3] Another 43 km (27 mi) northeast, Highway 16 reaches New Hazelton, where it then veers southeast along the Bulkley River. 68 km (42 mi) later, the highway reaches the town of Smithers, proceeding southeast another 64 km (40 mi) to the village of Houston.

    Along the Skeena River, near Kitwanga YELLOWHEAD HIGHWAY, BRITISH COLUMBIA.jpg
    Along the Skeena River, near Kitwanga

    At Houston, Highway 16 begins a parallel course along the upper course of the Bulkley River, proceeding 81 km (50 mi) east to its junction with Highway 35, south of Burns Lake. 128 km (80 mi) east, after passing through the hamlet of Fraser Lake, Highway 16 reaches its junction with Highway 27 in the town of Vanderhoof. 97 km (60 mi) east of Vanderhoof, Highway 16 reaches its B.C. midpoint as it enters the city of Prince George at its junction with Highway 97. Highway 16 leaves Prince George after coursing through the city for 9 km (5.6 mi).

    Passing through Mt. Robson Provincial Park. Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) while passing through Mt. Robson Provincial Park.jpg
    Passing through Mt. Robson Provincial Park.

    120 km (75 mi) east of Prince George, Highway 16 reaches the community of Dome Creek, where it converges with the Fraser River and turns southeast. It follows the Fraser River upstream for 82 km (51 mi) to McBride, then continues upstream for another 64 km (40 mi) to its junction with Highway 5 at Tête Jaune Cache. 14 km (8.7 mi) east of Tête Jaune Cache, Highway 16 enters Mount Robson Provincial Park, coursing through the park for 63 km (39 mi) to the boundary between British Columbia and Alberta within Yellowhead Pass.

    Construction and upgrading

    Prince George–New Hazelton

    In August 1925, this section opened [4] with the completion of the Burns Lake–Endako link. [5]

    New Hazelton–Kitwanga

    Highway extended west of New Hazelton by about 6 kilometres (4 mi) in 1927–28 [6] and another 5.3 kilometres (3.3 mi) in 1928–29. [7] By 1931–32, Kitwanga–Hazelton was rated fairly good. [8] By mid-1943, the condition was rated rough, awaiting tendering of reconstruction contracts. [9]

    Kitwanga–Usk

    By 1931–32, Cedarvale–Kitwanga was rated passable. For Usk–Cedarvale, several segments were under construction. [8] During 1936–1941, a series of 2-to-6-kilometre (1 to 4 mi) stretches were completed, [10] which included replacing sections washed out by the 1936 flood. [11] By 1937, the Usk–Cedarvale gap still remained on the southeast shore. [12]

    By 1940, a 32-kilometre (20 mi) gap remained. [13] In 1943, progress reactivated. [14] In May 1944, the gap completed [15] comprised the Pacific–Cedarvale section. [16]

    Usk–Terrace

    Highway extended east of Terrace by about 3 kilometres (2 mi) in 1927–28 [6] and another 6.0 kilometres (3.7 mi) in 1928–29. [7] In September 1929, Terrace–Usk section completed. [17]

    Terrace–Prince Rupert

    Highway of Tears

    The Highway of Tears is a stretch of Highway 16 between Prince George and Prince Rupert. [23] Since 1970, numerous women have gone missing or have been murdered along the 720 km (450 mi) section of highway. [24] Aboriginal organizations speculate that number ranges above forty. [25]

    In 2016, the Canadian government launched the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women after communicating with victim families. This was done to find methods of slowing the violence within the Indigenous population.

    In September 2020 a totem pole honouring missing and murdered Indigenous women was raised on the highway just outside Terrace. [26] [27] [28]

    Major intersections

    From west to east, the following intersections are observed along Highway 16. [29] Distances exclude the 172 km (93 nmi) ferry between Skidegate and Prince Rupert.

    Regional DistrictLocationkm [1] miDestinationsNotes
    North Coast Masset 0.000.00Hodges Avenue / Towhill RoadWestern terminus of the Yellowhead Highway
    Skidegate 100.9062.70Oceanview Drive (Road 33) (Hwy 951:1502) – Daajing Giids Daajing Giids was formerly known as Queen Charlotte prior to July 13, 2022. [30]
    101.1962.88British Columbia G-050-5.svg Skidegate Ferry Terminal
    Hecate Strait BC Ferries from Skidegate to Prince Rupert
    North Coast Prince Rupert 0.000.00British Columbia G-050-5.svg Prince Rupert Ferry Terminal
    15.189.43Galloway Rapids Bridge from Kaien Island to the mainland
    ​15.369.54Skeena Drive (Port Edward Road) (Hwy 951:1504) – Port Edward Hwy 951:1504 is unsigned
    Kitimat–Stikine Terrace 145.9190.66BC-113.svg Hwy 113 north (Nisga'a Highway) – Nisga'a Nation
    149.31–
    150.26    		92.78–
    93.37    		Dudley Little West Bridge and Dudley Little Main Bridge crosses the Skeena River
    150.5093.52BC-37.svg Hwy 37 south – Kitimat West end of Hwy 37 concurrency; former Hwy 25
    Kitwanga 241.10149.81BC-37.svg Hwy 37 north (Stewart-Cassiar Highway) – Stewart, Watson Lake East end of Hwy 37 concurrency
    New Hazelton 284.17176.58Churchill Street (Hwy 62 west) – Hazelton Hwy 62 is unofficial and unsigned
    Bulkley-Nechako Smithers 349.34–
    354.39    		217.07–
    220.21    		Passes through Smithers
    Telkwa 366.39227.66Passes through Telkwa
    Houston 414.19257.37Passes through Houston
    Topley 445.08276.56BC-118.svg Hwy 118 north – Granisle
    Burns Lake 496.39308.44BC-35.svg Hwy 35 south – Francois Lake
    Fraser Lake 565.47351.37Passes through Fraser Lake
    ​616.66383.17BC-27.svg Hwy 27 north – Fort St. James
    Vanderhoof 619.87–
    624.72    		385.17–
    388.18    		Passes through Vanderhoof
    Fraser-Fort George Prince George 716.66445.31Southridge AvenueInterchange; no westbound entrance
    717.08445.57Tyner Boulevard, Domano BoulevardProvides access to the University of Northern British Columbia
    720.55447.73BC-97.svg Hwy 97 (Cariboo Highway) – Dawson Creek, Quesnel, Kamloops, Vancouver
    722.03448.65Victoria Street / 20th AvenueHwy 16 turns onto Victoria Street
    723.74449.711st AvenueFormer Hwy 97A; Hwy 16 turns onto 1st Avenue
    725.70450.93Yellowhead Bridge over the Fraser River
    729.86453.51BC-97.svgOntario M502.svg Old Cariboo Highway (Hwy 941:1156 south) to Hwy 97  – Airport, Quesnel Former Hwy 97A
    ​742.31461.25Upper Fraser Road (Hwy 941:1577) – Willow River, Giscome, Upper Fraser
    McBride 933.97580.34McBride Bridge over the Fraser River
    Tête Jaune Cache 995.60618.64BC-5 (Yellowhead).svg Hwy 5 (YH) south – Valemount, Kamloops Tête Jaune Interchange
    Mount Robson
    Provincial Park         		1,009.70627.40West end of Mount Robson Provincial Park
    1,072.37666.34 Yellowhead Pass (Continental Divide) – 1,131 m (3,711 ft)
    Alberta Highway 16.svgYellowhead Blank.svg Hwy 16 (TCH/YH) east – Jasper, Edmonton Continuation into Alberta and Jasper National Park
    1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Stewart–Cassiar Highway</span> Highway in British Columbia

    The Stewart–Cassiar Highway, also known as the Dease Lake Highway and the Stikine Highway as well as the Thornhill –Kitimat Highway from Kitimat to Thornhill, is the northwesternmost highway in the Canadian province of British Columbia. A scenic route through some of the province's most isolated areas, the highway first gained designation as British Columbia Highway 37 in the year 1975. At that time, its southern terminus was at the community of New Hazelton on the BC Highway 16. In 1975, with the completion of a new bridge over the Kitimat River, the highway's Yellowhead junction was relocated to a point on Highway 16 just south of the site of Kitwanga. Highway 37 was then extended south to Kitimat in 1986 superseding what was then designated Highway 25. At the north end, the highway briefly stretches into the Yukon, becoming Yukon Highway 37.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Rogers Pass (British Columbia)</span> Mountain pass in Canada

    Rogers Pass is a high mountain pass through the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, but the term also includes the approaches used by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) and the Trans-Canada Highway. In the heart of Glacier National Park, this National Historic Site has been a tourist destination since 1886.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Usk, British Columbia</span> Hamlet in British Columbia, Canada

    Usk is an unincorporated community in the Skeena region of west central British Columbia, Canada. The Usk Ferry connects the two parts of the hamlet that straddle the Skeena River. Just off BC Highway 16, the locality is by road about 182 kilometres (113 mi) west of Smithers and 23 kilometres (14 mi) northeast of Terrace.

    Shalalth and South Shalalth are unincorporated communities on the northern shore near the western end of Seton Lake in the Squamish-Lillooet region of southwestern British Columbia. The localities are by road about 63 kilometres (39 mi) northwest of Lillooet, but only 24 kilometres (15 mi) by rail.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Seton Lake</span> Lake in British Columbia, Canada

    Seton Lake is a lake in the Squamish-Lillooet region of southwestern British Columbia. On the northeast side is Mission Ridge. On the southwest is the Cayoosh Range. By road, the eastern end is about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) southwest of Lillooet.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Quesnel Airport</span> Airport in Quesnel, British Columbia

    Quesnel Airport is on the east side of the Fraser River about 2.6 nautical miles north of central Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanderhoof Airport</span> Airport in Vanderhoof, British Columbia

    Vanderhoof Airport is about 1.9 nautical miles north of the centre of Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexandra Bridge Provincial Park</span> Provincial park in British Columbia, Canada

    Alexandra Bridge Park lies within the lower Fraser Canyon of British Columbia, Canada. This provincial park is adjacent to the historic suspension bridge from 1926, which spans the Fraser River and was built using the eastern abutment of the bridge from 1863. The locality, on BC Highway 1, is by road about 44 kilometres (27 mi) north of Hope and 65 kilometres (40 mi) south of Lytton.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Highway of Tears</span> Stretch of Highway 16 corridor, infamous for disappearances and murders of Indigenous women

    The Highway of Tears is a 719-kilometre (447 mi) corridor of Highway 16 between Prince George and Prince Rupert in British Columbia, Canada, which has been the location of crimes against many Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) beginning in 1970. The phrase was coined during a vigil held in Terrace, British Columbia in 1998, by Florence Naziel, who was thinking of the victims' families crying over their loved ones. There are a disproportionately high number of Indigenous women on the list of victims.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitwanga</span> Place in British Columbia, Canada

    Kitwanga or Gitwangak is in the Skeena region of west central British Columbia. Among the Hazelton and Buckley Mountain Ranges, the place is on the north shore of the Skeena River, east of the Kitwanga River confluence. On BC Highway 37, northeast of the junction with BC Highway 16, the locality is by road about 115 kilometres (71 mi) northwest of Smithers, 99 kilometres (62 mi) northeast of Terrace, and 212 kilometres (132 mi) southeast of Stewart.

    Alexandria or Fort Alexandria was a general area encompassing a trading post, ferry site, and steamboat landing in the North Cariboo region of central British Columbia. The present unincorporated community is on the eastern side of the Fraser River. On BC Highway 97, the locality is by road about 74 kilometres (46 mi) northwest of Williams Lake and 45 kilometres (28 mi) south of Quesnel.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Jasper–Prince Rupert train</span> Via Rail service between Jasper, Alberta and Prince Rupert, British Columbia

    The Jasper–Prince Rupert train is a Canadian passenger train service operated by Via Rail between Jasper, Alberta, Prince George and Prince Rupert in British Columbia.

    Australian is an unincorporated community on the east side of the Fraser River in the North Cariboo region of central British Columbia. On BC Highway 97, the locality is by road about 85 kilometres (53 mi) north of Williams Lake and 33 kilometres (21 mi) south of Quesnel.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitselas Canyon</span> Canyon in Kitimat-Stikine Regional District, Canada

    Kitselas Canyon is a canyon carved by the Skeena River in the Skeena region of west central British Columbia, Canada. Off BC Highway 16, the landmark is by road about 185 kilometres (115 mi) west of Smithers and 20 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of Terrace.

    Kitselas is a railway point on the northwestern shore of the Skeena River in the Skeena region of west central British Columbia, Canada. The former name was Vanarsdol. Across the Skeena to the southwest is the mouth of the Zymoetz River. This river bridge on BC Highway 16 is by road about 10 kilometres (6 mi) northeast of Terrace.

    Cedarvale or Meanskinisht is an unincorporated community in the Skeena region of west central British Columbia. Concentrated on the southeastern shore of the Skeena River, no direct link exists to the portion on the northwestern shore. On BC Highway 16, the locality is by road about 130 kilometres (81 mi) northwest of Smithers and 75 kilometres (47 mi) northeast of Terrace.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyder–Stewart Border Crossing</span>

    The Hyder–Stewart Border Crossing connects the communities of Hyder, Alaska, and Stewart, British Columbia, on the Canada–United States border. International Street on the American side joins British Columbia Highway 37A on the Canadian side.

    Pacific is a railway point in the Skeena region of west central British Columbia. On the western shore of the Skeena River, no direct link exists to the highway section on the eastern shore near the mouth of Legate Creek. On BC Highway 16, the locality is by road about 164 kilometres (102 mi) west of Smithers and 40 kilometres (25 mi) northeast of Terrace.

    Isle Pierre is a railway point in the Nechako Region of central British Columbia. The scattered community straddles the shores of the Nechako River. The west side, off BC Highway 16, is by road about 55 kilometres (34 mi) west of Prince George and 69 kilometres (43 mi) east of Vanderhoof. The east side is by road about 46 kilometres (29 mi) west of Prince George.

    Miworth is an unincorporated community on the southeast shore of the Nechako River in the Nechako Region of central British Columbia. The location, via Otway Rd and Miworth Rd, is about 16 kilometres (10 mi) northwest of Prince George.

    References

    1. 1 2 3 Landmark Kilometre Inventory (PDF). British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (Report). Cypher Consulting. 5 Jan 2017. pp. 224–271. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 Mar 2017.
    2. ↑ British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Highways (4 Jan 1983). General Circular G1/83. Victoria: Ministry of Transportation and Highways. pp. 0, 3.
    3. ↑ Infrastructure, Ministry of Transportation and. "Highway 37 Map - Province of British Columbia". www2.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved 2 Feb 2019.
    4. ↑ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 20 Aug 1925. p. 2.
    5. ↑ Minister of Public Works annual report, 1925–26. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 37 (Q23).
    6. 1 2 Minister of Public Works annual report, 1927–28. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 42 (U24).
    7. 1 2 Minister of Public Works annual report, 1928–29. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 43 (S23).
    8. 1 2 Minister of Public Works annual report, 1931–32. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. M11.
    9. ↑ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 15 Jul 1943. p. 6.
    10. ↑ Minister of Public Works annual report, 1936–37. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 33 (X23).
      Minister of Public Works annual report, 1938–39. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 39 (Z29).
      Minister of Public Works annual report, 1940–41. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 47 (O37).
    11. ↑ Minister of Public Works annual report, 1937–38. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 30 (X26).
    12. ↑ "Standard Oil BC map". www.davidrumsey.com. 1937.
    13. ↑ "Daily Colonist". archive.org. 21 Nov 1940. p. 2.
    14. ↑ Minister of Public Works annual report, 1943–44. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 11 (Q6).
    15. ↑ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 25 May 1944. p. 6.
    16. ↑ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 10 Aug 1944. p. 1.
    17. ↑ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 26 Sep 1929. p. 1.
    18. 1 2 3 Septer, Dirk (1995). "BC Historical News: Highway 16: Prince Rupert–Terrace 1944–1994". library.ubc.ca. 29 (1): 26–28 (24–26).
    19. ↑ "Daily Colonist". archive.org. 13 Feb 1943. p. 1.
    20. ↑ "Vancouver Sun". www.newspapers.com. 26 Sep 1946. p. 9. British Columbia Government is going to take over from Canadian National Railways 37 miles of highway between Terrace and Prince Rupert and incorporate it as part of the northern trans-provincial highway system…The road had to follow the CNR right-of-way. For this reason it remained under Dominion control.
    21. ↑ "Transportation and Infrastructure correspondence" (PDF). kc-usercontent.com. 15 Mar 2021. p. 8.
    22. ↑ "North Coast Review". northcoastreview.blogspot.com. 15 Apr 2019.
    23. ↑ Gerson, Jen. "Four things to know about Highway of Tears scandal, and the documents B.C. government allegedly deleted". National Post. Retrieved 8 Dec 2015.
    24. ↑ Ferreras, Jesse (25 Sep 2012). "Highway Of Tears: BC's Missing And Murdered Women". Huffington Post. Retrieved 8 Dec 2015.
    25. ↑ "Those Who Take Us Away" (PDF). Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 8 Dec 2015.
    26. ↑ "Totem pole to be raised on B.C.'s Highway of Tears to honour missing, murdered Indigenous women". www.cbc.ca. 4 Sep 2020.
    27. ↑ "Memorial pole raised on Highway of Tears in B.C. for families". www.aptnnews.ca. 15 Sep 2020. Retrieved 27 Feb 2022.
    28. ↑ "Community gathers for monumental totem pole raising along B.C.'s Highway of Tears". www.terracestandard.com. 4 Sep 2020. Retrieved 27 Feb 2022.
    29. ↑ British Columbia Road Atlas (2007 ed.). Oshawa, ON: MapArt Publishing Corp. 2010. pp. 16–23, 26–30, 36–37. ISBN   978-1-55368-018-5.
    30. ↑ Ministry of Municipal Affairs (13 Jul 2022). "Ancestral Haida name restored to Haida Gwaii village". news.gov.bc.ca.
    KML file (edit • help)
    Template:Attached KML/British Columbia Highway 16
    KML is from Wikidata
    Yellowhead Highway
    Previous province:
    Terminus    		British
    Columbia    		Next province:
    Alberta
    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.