Ottawa to spend $156 million on Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks

By David F. Rooney
The federal government is going to spend $156 million to improve infrastructure in Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks, including their sections of the Trans-Canada Highway.
“Over the last few years we have celebrated many milestone anniversaries,” MP David Wilks said during the formal announcement at Monashee Lookout on the Meadows in the Sky Parkway on Thursday, July 16. “Glacier National park turned 125 years old, Mount Revelstoke National Park marked its centennial and we marked 50 years since the opening of the Trans-Canada Highway with its avalanche control program.”
This new money, a significant portion of which will likely be spent locally, will ensure the parks will continue to have safe and reliable infrastructure, Wilks said.

Dr. Colin Carrie, parliamentary secretary to Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq, was also on hand for this event. The Oshawa, Ontario, MP the money was part of a massive $3 billion plan to upgrade Parks Canada’s parks and historic sites across the country. Not only will it protect these vital spaces and monuments but will stimulate growth and employment in local economies, Carrie said.
Here is a project-by-project breakdown:

Glacier National Park
Project description:
Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) – Illecillewaet Bridge No. 1 – Rehabilitation – Glacier NP	$5.5 M
This project will rehabilitate the first of three Illecillewaet bridges in Glacier National Park to improve structural integrity and ensure they are safe for the travelling public.
Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) – Illecillewaet Bridge No. 2 – Rehabilitation – Glacier NP	$5.5 M
This project will rehabilitate the second of three Illecillewaet bridges in Glacier National Park to improve structural integrity and ensure they are safe for the travelling public.
Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) – Illecillewaet Bridge No. 3 – Rehabilitation – Glacier NP	$3.3 M
This project will rehabilitate the third of three Illecillewaet bridges in Glacier National Park to improve structural integrity and ensure they are safe for the travelling public.
Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) – Paving, Guardrail Replacement and Slope Stabilization – Glacier NP	$35.2 M
This project involves paving, guardrail repair or replacement, and slope stabilization on the Trans-Canada Highway through Glacier National Park. It also includes the installation of LED lighting in all five snow sheds in Rogers Pass.
Trans-Canada Day Use Areas Rehabilitation – Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National Parks	$700 K
Activities under this project will include rehabilitation of trails, boardwalks, picnic areas, washrooms, entrance stations, parking lots, and signage. These efforts will contribute to improved services to visitors.
Trans-Canada highway (TCH) – Avalanche Mitigations – Glacier NP	$77 M
The major components of this project include a 2 km traffic holding area at Beaver Hill; 2 km traffic holding area at Beaver Valley; Rogers Pass Summit traffic holding area extension; five remotely activated avalanche systems; rehabilitation of existing static avalanche defense systems (berms, earth moguls, diversion dams); avalanche warning systems and signs on the Trans-Canada Highway at the Illecillewaet corner; repairs to existing snow shed structural components; and drainage repairs and improvements.
Illecillewaet Trails Complex Rehabilitation – Glacier NP	$540 K
The network of ten, 125-year old hiking trails in the popular Illecillewaet and Asulkan Valleys will be rehabilitated. Project work includes: trail re-routes, erosion control, improved orientation and directional signs and critical repairs to trail tread, structures, bridges.   These efforts will ensure visitor safety and enhance visitor experience and enjoyment.
Rogers Pass Bunkhouse Rehabilitation – Glacier NP	$750 K
The Roger’s Pass bunkhouse plays a critical role providing living quarters for military staff carrying out avalanche control work along the Trans-Canada Highway in winter. Work under this project will replace windows, panels and doors, along with flooring and interior finishes while meeting health and safety obligations.
Sewer and Waterworks Rehabilitation – Glacier NP	$8.3 M
This project will replace a critical section of ageing sewer line connected to the wastewater system that runs under the Trans-Canada Highway in Rogers Pass, thereby reducing the risk of both sewer line failure and any resulting closures of the Trans-Canada Highway.
Washroom Facility Replacement – Glacier NP – Rogers Pass	$1 M
A permanent and cost-effective washroom facility is required at Rogers Pass to address increased use. The public restroom facility in the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre and mobile washroom trailer are insufficient to meet the on-going, year-round, 24-hr a day needs of park visitors and the travelling public.
Site description:
Glacier National Park protects a portion of the Columbia Mountains Natural Region in the interior wet belt of British Columbia. The steep, rugged mountains, warm, moist climate and wide variety of plant and animal life are typical of this natural region. The park protects unique stands of old-growth cedar and hemlock and critical habitat for threatened and endangered wildlife species such as the mountain caribou, mountain goat and grizzly bear. Rogers Pass National Historic Site, located in Glacier National Park, was also designated for its importance in the construction and development of the country’s first major national transportation route. Over 540,000 visitors come to this park every year. Glacier National Park’s 100 km of hiking trails, deep powder ski-touring and historic campgrounds continue a century-old tradition of Columbia Mountains adventure and hospitality. The award-winning Rogers Pass Discovery Centre and a series of scenic viewpoints and interpretive boardwalks tell the stories behind the scenery.
Mount Revelstoke National Park
Project description:
TCH Paving – Mount Revelstoke NP	$12.9 M
This project involves paving, guardrail repair or replacement, and slope stabilization on the Trans-Canada Highway through Mount Revelstoke National Park.
TCH -Wolsey Creek Bridge – Rehabilitation – Mount Revelstoke NP	$3.4 M
This project will rehabilitate the Woolsey Creek Bridge located on the Trans-Canada Highway in Mount Revelstoke National Park, to ensure it is safe and reliable for the travelling public.
Summit Day-Use Area and Trails Complex Rehabilitation – Mount Revelstoke NP	$445 K
The network of 14 high visitation trails at and around the summit of Mount Revelstoke will be rehabilitated. Project work includes: critical repairs to trail tread, structure and drainage, improved orientation and directional signs and, on selected trails, removal of trail design elements that hinder barrier free accessibility.
Meadows in the Sky Parkway Paving – Mount Revelstoke NP	$2 M
The popular Meadows in the Sky Parkway winds 26km and 2,000 vertical metres to the summit of Mount Revelstoke National Park. This project will restore the road surface to greatly improve the driving experience and ensure safe and reliable road infrastructure for visitors.

Site description:
Mount Revelstoke National Park protects a portion of the Columbia Mountains Natural Region, in the interior wet belt of British Columbia. The steep, rugged mountains, warm, moist climate, and variety of plant and animal life are typical of this natural region. The park contains stands of old-growth cedar and hemlock, a forest type which is rapidly declining outside of protected areas. The park is famous for summer wildflower displays on the summit of Mount Revelstoke. Each year the meadows of the upper subalpine zone blossom into brilliant colour by the middle of August. It was the beauty of these meadows so near to their town that inspired a group of people in Revelstoke to lobby for the creation of the national park in 1914.
* Please note that the sum of individual project values may not equal the grand total indicated at the top of this document due to standard rounding errors.