BC Kootenay Highways - Road Report News

Highway 3A, 3B, 6, 31, 31A, 93, 95, 95A through Nelson, Grand Forks, New Denver, Nakusp, Salmo, Creston, Castlegar ...Use this link for Highway 3 Conditions and the following link for Kootenay Lake Ferry

Current Kootenay Highway Road Conditions

Route     Description Last Updated

Highway 1 Both Directions

Bridge, guardrail, shoulder maintenance and line painting is happening in Glacier Park from 7:00 to 7:00 July 29 and from 7:00 to noon on July 30. Traffic should expect minor delays. Updated on Thu Jul 29 at 10:16 am. (ID# -22552)

Jul 29, 2010 10:16 AM

Highway 1 Both Directions

Construction from Golden to 4 km east of Golden (4 km), 7:30 am to 7:00 pm daily until further notice. Watch for detours and traffic pattern changes through the construction zone. Updated on Thu Jun 10 at 9:49 am. (ID# -21022)

Jun 10, 2010 09:49 AM

Highway 1 Both Directions

Construction 20 km east of Golden to West Boundary of Yoho National Park (5.8 km), 7:00 am to 6:00 pm daily until further notice. The road is reduced to single lane alternating traffic. Updated on Tue May 25 at 6:07 am. (ID# -21021)

May 25, 2010 06:07 AM

Highway 3 Both Directions

Bridge Maintenance 3 km west of Yahk 6:00 am to 4:00 pm Mon-Fri through Jul 30. The road is reduced to single lane alternating traffic. Updated on Mon Jul 26 at 6:39 am. (ID# -22424)

Jul 26, 2010 06:39 AM

Highway 3 Both Directions

Hwy 3 construction 2 km west of Fernie 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Mon-Sat through Jul 31. The road is reduced to single lane alternating traffic with minor delays. Updated on Thu Jul 15 at 10:17 am. (ID# -22237)

Jul 15, 2010 10:17 AM

Highway 3 Both Directions

Construction 5 km west of Sparwood starting Tue Jul 27 until Thu Sep 30. There is an enforced 24 hr speed reduction with no passing through the construction zone. Updated on Tue Jul 27 at 1:17 pm. (ID# -22495)

Jul 27, 2010 01:17 PM

Highway 3A between Castlegar and Creston Both Directions

Construction 2 km west of Nelson 7:00 am to 9:00 pm daily through Jul 29. Minor delays expected. 30 minutes closures planned on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm, 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm and 8:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Updated on Tue Jul 27 at 10:35 am. (ID# -22490)

Jul 27, 2010 10:35 AM

Highway 3A between Castlegar and Creston Both Directions

Construction 2 km west of Nelson 7:00 am to 12:00 pm on Fri Jul 30. Minor delays expected. Updated on Tue Jul 27 at 10:39 am. (ID# -22491)

Jul 27, 2010 10:39 AM

Highway 3A between Castlegar and Creston Both Directions

Heavy Traffic Volume from Balfour to Crawford Bay (14.1 km), 6:30 am to 10:30 pm July 30th daily through Aug 3. Travelers should expect delays. Travel during non-peak periods is recommended. Updated on Wed Jul 21 at 9:37 am. (ID# -22354)

Jul 21, 2010 09:37 AM

Highway 3A between Castlegar and Creston Both Directions

Bridge Construction at Akokli Creek Bridge 40 km west of Junction with Highway 3, in Creston 7:00 am to 7:00 pm daily through Oct 31 except Statutory Holiday weekends. The road is reduced to single lane alternating traffic. Expect Minor Delays. Updated on Tue Apr 27 at 11:42 am. (ID# -20492)

Apr 27, 2010 11:42 AM

Highway 3A between Castlegar and Creston Both Directions

Edgar, Allan R TRAN:EX 13 km west of Junction with Highway 3, in Creston 7:00 am to 7:00 pm daily through Jul 30. The road is reduced to single lane alternating traffic. Updated on Wed Jul 28 at 6:15 am. (ID# -22499)

Jul 28, 2010 06:15 AM

Highway 3B Both Directions

Construction at Rossland 7:30 am to 5:30 pm daily through Aug 1. Traffic Control on site. Expect Minor Delays. Updated on Fri Jun 18 at 12:02 pm. (ID# -21676)

Jun 18, 2010 12:02 PM

Highway 23 Both Directions

Heavy Traffic Volume from Galena Bay to Shelter Bay (4.5 km). 2 hour delays at Shelter Bay, with no delays at Galena Bay. Updated on Thu Jul 29 at 7:17 pm. (ID# 98705)

Jul 29, 2010 07:17 PM

Kootenay Lake Ferry Both Directions

Heavy Traffic Volume at Kootenay Lake 6:30 am to 10:30 pm July 30th, daily, through Aug 3, the August long weekend. Travelers should expect sailing delays. Travel during non-peak periods is recommended. Updated on Wed Jul 21 at 9:43 am. (ID# -22355)

Jul 21, 2010 09:43 AM

Upper Arrow Lake Ferry Both Directions

Heavy Traffic Volume at Upper Arrow Lake. 2 hour delays at Shelter Bay with no delay at Galena Bay. Updated on Thu Jul 29 at 6:36 pm. (ID# 98704)

Jul 29, 2010 06:36 PM

Kootenay Weather Locations

Salmo     Creston     Castlegar     Nelson      Radium Hot Springs       Grand Forks

General Route Information

Kootenay Pass, known locally as "the Salmo-Creston" is a mountain pass in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. It is utilized by the Crowsnest Highway to transverse the Selkirks, connecting the communities of Salmo and Creston. At its opening the highway route was also dubbed the Kootenay Skyway

Highway 3A The 154 km (96 mi) long Kootenay section of Highway 3A begins at Castlegar, and travels 20 km (12 mi) northeast to South Slocan, where Highway 6 merges onto Highway 3A. The two highways proceed east for 22 km (14 mi) to Nelson, where Highway 6 diverges south. 34 km (21 mi) northeast of Nelson, Highway 3A reaches Balfour, on the western shore of Kootenay Lake. The Kootenay Lake ferry takes Highway 3A across Kootenay Lake to Kootenay Bay. Highway 3A then follows the eastern shore of Kootenay Lake for 78 km (48 mi) all the way south to Creston, where it terminates.

Highway 6 has a total length of 407 km (253 mi). It begins at the Canada-U.S. border crossing at Nelway, where it connects with State Route 31. It travels north for 10 km (6 mi) to the Burnt Flat Junction, where the Crowsnest Highway merges onto it from the east. The Crowsnest carries Highway 6 north for 14 km (9 mi) to the town of Salmo, where the Crowsnest diverges west. From Salmo, Highway 6 goes north for 41 km (25 mi), mostly following the Salmo River, to the city of Nelson, where access to the Whitewater Ski Resort is located. Highway 3A merges onto Highway 6 at Nelson, and the two highways travel west for 21 km (13 mi) along the Kootenay River, passing through the communities of Taghum and Bonnington Falls, to where Highway 3A diverges southwest just west of South Slocan.

From South Slocan, Highway 6 follows the Slocan River north for 79 km (49 mi) to the community of New Denver, where Highway 31A meets Highway 6. 48 km (30 mi) northwest of New Denver, Highway 6 reaches its junction with Highway 23 at the resort community of Nakusp. Highway 6 then turns southwest and proceeds to follow the east bank of the Columbia River for 57 km (35 mi) to Fauquier, on the east shore of Lower Arrow Lake.

From Needles, Highway 6 takes a winding path northwest through the Monashee Mountain range, passing through the community of Cherryville on its exit from the mountains, until it reaches the community of Lumby, 110 km (68 mi) away. Highway 6 then proceeds west on its final 26 km (16 mi) through the town of Coldstream, to its ending at a junction with Highway 97 at Vernon

Highway 23, which is 250 km (155 mi) long, begins in the south at Nakusp, where it meets Highway 6. Highway 23 winds north along the eastern shore of Upper Arrow Lake for 49 km (30 mi) to its junction with Highway 31 at Galena Bay. The Upper Arrow Lakes Ferry continues Highway 23 across the Upper Arrow Lake to a location known as Shelter Bay. North of Shelter Bay, Highway 23 follows the west bank of the Columbia River for 49 km (30 mi) to where it meets the Trans-Canada Highway. Highway 23 follows the Trans-Canada east through the city of Revelstoke for 1 km (about ½ mi), finally turning north after leaving Revelstoke.

North of Revelstoke, Highway 23 entirely follows the east bank of Revelstoke Lake for 151 km (94 mi), past the old townsite of Mica Creek to its northern end at the Mica Dam facility.

Highway 31 is a slightly minor north-south highway through the Selkirk Mountains. The highway first gained its number in 1973, and it is one of the few numbered highways in the province that is not fully paved. Highway 31 has a total distance of 109 miles (175km)— 23 miles (37km) along Kootenay Lake between Balfour (a junction with Highway 3A) and Kaslo (a junction with Highway 31A) and 86 miles (138km) between Kaslo and Galena Bay, where it ends at Highway 23

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