Bighorn route

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Map showing Alberta Highway 40, Edmonton and Calgary are the asterisks on the map

The Bighorn Route is the section of Alberta Highway 40 between the Yellowhead Highway (Canada Highway 16) and the East Access Route (Alberta Highway 43).

course

Alberta Highway 40 runs north-south west of Edmonton and Calgary . Coming from the Rocky Mountains Forest Reserve near Robb, Alberta Highway 40 crosses the Yellowhead Highway at Hinton .

The entire stretch of the road leading through the almost deserted area at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains is paved.

Important points along the route:

  • 3 km - access to Entrance (approx. 70 inhabitants) immediately west of the road
  • 5 km - Bridge over the Athabasca River
  • 8 km - access to Brûle (approx. 160 inhabitants) 16 km west on Brule Lake
  • 14 km - Entrance to William A. Switzer Provincial Park
  • 28 km - exit William A. Switzer Provincial Park
  • 37 km - Bridge over the Wildhay River
  • 25 miles - Rock Lake turnoff, 20 miles west on the edge of Willmore Wilderness Park and Jasper National Park
  • 65 km - Bridge over the Little Berland River
  • 78 km - Bridge over the Big Berland River
  • 107 km - Muskeg River (approx. 20 inhabitants)
  • 109 km - Junction of Highway 734, which leads unpaved 187 km to Alberta Highway 34 near DeBolt
  • 113 km - Bridge over the Veronique River
  • 119 km - Bridge over the Muskeg River
  • 142 km - Grande Cache (approx. 3,500 inhabitants)
  • 147 km - Bridge over the Smoky River
  • 162 km - access to the mine of Smoky River Coal Ltd. and to the HR Milner Generating Station
  • 234 km - Bridge over the Kakwa River
  • 256 km - junction to Musreau Lake (6 km east)
  • 264 km - Bridge over the Cutbank River
  • 289 km - Canfor Road junction east to Gold Creek Gas Plant and Highway 734
  • 20 miles - West turn off Highway 666, access to Grovedale and O'Brien Provincial Park
  • 322 km - Bridge over the Wapiti River
  • 333 km - Grande Prairie , north end of the route at the junction of Wapiti Rd./100th Av.

Building history

The development of the region did not begin until the middle of the 20th century through unpaved roads, which served the economic development of the wood of the forests. The discovery of usable deposits of natural gas and coal near the present-day town of Grande Cache led to the emergence of this city, which in 1968 was connected to Alberta's road network via the highway.