Visitors to Banff Gondola, Upper Hot Springs Should Expect Delays as Major Roadwork Begins

Anyone planning a trip to some of Banff National Park's busiest attractions this summer may want to leave earlier than usual.

Parks Canada has begun a major reconstruction of Mountain Avenue, the only road connecting the Town of Banff to the Sulphur Mountain area, where attractions including the Banff Gondola, Banff Upper Hot Springs and several popular hiking trails draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

The project, which will continue through September, is expected to cause traffic delays as crews rebuild approximately 2.7 kilometres of roadway between the Banff town boundary and the Upper Hot Springs.

Drivers should expect single-lane alternating traffic, reduced speed limits and construction delays of up to 10 minutes, although Parks Canada says waits could be longer during peak visitor periods.

The work also includes rehabilitation on sections of Tunnel Mountain Drive, adding to traffic impacts in another busy visitor area.

While access to destinations will remain open throughout construction, Parks Canada is encouraging visitors to plan ahead, allow extra travel time and consider using public transit when visiting the Sulphur Mountain area.

The project is more than a simple repaving.

Crews are carrying out a full-scale reconstruction that includes removing and replacing the road surface, widening portions of the roadway, upgrading drainage systems and culverts, installing retaining walls, and improving pedestrian infrastructure.

Mountain Avenue will also receive a new uphill bike lane, an upgraded bus stop and sidewalk improvements extending toward the Banff Upper Hot Springs.

The work is intended to improve safety and modernize one of the park's busiest transportation corridors, which serves not only major tourism attractions but also the Tunnel Mountain campgrounds, the Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court and several trailheads.

Despite the construction, Parks Canada says access to Tunnel Mountain Village 1 and 2 campgrounds, the trailer court and nearby trails will be maintained throughout the project.

For visitors, however, the biggest change may simply be patience.