Alberta plans permanent closure of popular Lac des Arcs Highway 1 viewpoint over safety concerns
The pullout—a first stop for tourists heading to Banff—has spawned 85 traffic incidents in three years. The $1.4M ramp rebuild is unfunded.
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Alberta's Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors plans to permanently close the Highway 1 pullout at Lac des Arcs, a scenic viewing area just west of the highway interchange that sits between Canmore and the mountains and has become one of the first stops for tourists heading toward Banff. Residents in the small community have pushed for the closure for about a decade.
The problem is a collision of traffic patterns. Drivers slowing to enter the pullout merge left while residents trying to get back onto Highway 1 merge right, creating what Lisa Rosvold, reeve of the MD of Bighorn, described as a dangerous intersection: "Essentially, we're dealing with two merging lanes that go against each other. So we've got people merging left onto the highway. And we have people merging right to get into the rest area. And those merge lanes collide." The issue has worsened as tourism numbers increased. The MD of Bighorn fire department recorded 85 traffic incidents near the rest area over the past three years.
Helen Rose, president of the Lac des Arcs community association, said residents support the plan. "The majority of us are saying good — it's dangerous. The main issue is the traffic is so much busier. That on-ramp is too short and it's dangerous to move on to that highway in that busy traffic." Rose noted that drivers speed up to merge onto the busy highway while others ahead may be slowing to enter the pullout.
The province plans to rebuild the westbound entrance ramp to current standards. The project cost is estimated at $1.4 million, but the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors has not allocated funding yet; the timeline for design and construction will be set once funding is in place. Two other pullouts further west along the highway remain available for stopping. One tourist at the site, Joel Legasbi, opposed the closure: "It's sad news if they are gonna do it. Hopefully they won't. It's popular for people that are coming to the mountains for the first time," he said. Rosvold countered: "I get it. But doing so safely is the most important part."
When will Alberta allocate the $1.4M needed to begin the ramp reconstruction?
Has the province consulted with Canmore or other mountain communities that may see increased traffic at remaining pullouts?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How many traffic incidents occurred at the Lac des Arcs pullout in the past three years?
The MD of Bighorn fire department recorded 85 traffic incidents near the rest area over the past three years.
What is the estimated cost to rebuild the westbound entrance ramp?
The project cost is estimated at $1.4 million.
Why is the Lac des Arcs pullout considered dangerous?
Drivers entering the pullout merge left while residents exiting merge right, creating opposing merge lanes that collide. This hazard has worsened as tourism increased and traffic became busier.
Has funding been approved for the ramp rebuild?
The Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors has not allocated funding yet; the timeline for design and construction will be set once funding is in place.
