British Columbia provincial highway 3A
Encyclopedia
Highway 3A is the designation of two segments of highway in the southern part of British Columbia
.
This was the first segment of highway in British Columbia to receive the '3A' designation. It acquired this designation when the Crowsnest Highway
was routed into the Kootenay Pass
area in 1964. Originally, a ferry was used to route Highway 3A over the Columbia River near Castlegar
, which was replaced by a bridge in 1967.
, where it leaves Highway 3
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. A 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) south through Crawford Bay
, Boswell
, and Wynndel
to Creston
, where it rejoins Highway 3.
Highway 3A runs from Keremeos 35 km north through Olalla and up the long hill to Yellow Lake, then east past Twin Lakes and through the Marron Valley to Kaleden Junction where it intersects with Highway 97, the North-South Okanagan route. Penticton is 14 km north of the junction; however, Highway 3A goes south at this point, past Okanagan Falls (6 km from the junction) to Oliver and Osoyoos. The distance south from the Kaleden Junction through Okanagan Falls and Oliver to Osoyoos on Highway 97 is about 50 km (30 mi).
Extra driving time should be allowed for traffic congestion (tourism) in the Okanagan in summer. There is also some agricultural traffic in both valleys. There is limited 3 and 4 laning.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
Kootenays - Castlegar-Nelson-Creston Highway
This was the first segment of highway in British Columbia to receive the '3A' designation. It acquired this designation when the Crowsnest Highway
Crowsnest Highway
The Crowsnest Highway, also known as the Interprovincial or, in British Columbia, the Southern Trans-Provincial, is an east-west highway, in length, through the southern parts of British Columbia and Alberta, providing the shortest highway connection between British Columbia's Lower Mainland and...
was routed into the Kootenay Pass
Kootenay Pass
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...
area in 1964. Originally, a ferry was used to route Highway 3A over the Columbia River near Castlegar
Castlegar, British Columbia
Castlegar is the second largest city in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. It is located within the Selkirk Mountains at the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers. It is a regional trade and transportation centre, with a local economy fueled by forestry, mining and tourism...
, which was replaced by a bridge in 1967.
Route details
The 154 km (96 mi) long Kootenay section of Highway 3A begins at CastlegarCastlegar, British Columbia
Castlegar is the second largest city in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. It is located within the Selkirk Mountains at the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers. It is a regional trade and transportation centre, with a local economy fueled by forestry, mining and tourism...
, where it leaves Highway 3
Crowsnest Highway
The Crowsnest Highway, also known as the Interprovincial or, in British Columbia, the Southern Trans-Provincial, is an east-west highway, in length, through the southern parts of British Columbia and Alberta, providing the shortest highway connection between British Columbia's Lower Mainland and...
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
Nelson, British Columbia
Nelson is a city located in the Selkirk Mountains on the extreme West Arm of Kootenay Lake in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Known as "The Queen City", and acknowledged for its impressive collection of restored heritage buildings from its glory days in a regional silver rush,...
, where Highway 6 diverges south. 34 km (21 mi) northeast of Nelson, Highway 3A reaches Balfour
Balfour, British Columbia
Balfour, also known as Balfour Bay, is an unincorporated community in British Columbia, located about northeast of the city of Nelson and located at the juncture of Kootenay Lake with its West Arm....
, on the western shore of Kootenay Lake. A ferry takes Highway 3A across Kootenay Lake to Kootenay Bay
Kootenay Bay, British Columbia
Kootenay Bay is an unincorporated community, ferry landing and former steamboat landing on the east side of Kootenay Lake, located on the bay of the same name. The ferry, operated by BC Ferries, crosses the lake to Balfour, and forms a link in BC Highway 6, which leads east from Balfour to nearby...
. Highway 3A then follows the eastern shore of Kootenay Lake for 78 km (48 mi) south through Crawford Bay
Crawford Bay, British Columbia
Crawford Bay is a community of approximately 350 people, situated in the Purcell mountain range on the eastern shore of Kootenay Lake in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada...
, Boswell
Boswell, British Columbia
Boswell is a rural locality on the east shore of Kootenay Lake approximately 35km due east of the city of Nelson, British Columbia, Canada.- See Also :Crawford Bay, British ColumbiaKootenay Lake FerryGlass House...
, and Wynndel
Wynndel, British Columbia
Wynndel is a small, rural community in the Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia, Canada approximately 10 KM north of Creston. Its population is approximately 900, representing a varied mix ofoccupations, cultures and income levels.-Economy:...
to Creston
Creston, British Columbia
Creston is a town of 4,826 people in the Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia, Canada. The town is located just a few kilometers north of the Porthill, Idaho border crossing into the United States and about a three-hour drive north from Spokane, Washington. It is about a one-hour drive...
, where it rejoins Highway 3.
Similkameen to Okanagan - Keremeos-Kaleden Junction-Osoyoos Highway
A new section of highway through the Richter Pass from Keremeos to Osoyoos was opened in 1965. The 2-lane Crowsnest Highway was re-routed through this area in 1967, and the segment between Keremeos and Osoyoos was given the Highway 3 Southern Trans-Canada designation. This 45 km (28 mi.) long segment of Highway 3 runs south from Keremeos, past the turnoff to Nighthawk, USA, then east over the Richter to Osoyoos. It's a main part of the bike course for the Penticton Subaru Ironman Canada Triathlon each August in the Okanagan Similkameen.Highway 3A runs from Keremeos 35 km north through Olalla and up the long hill to Yellow Lake, then east past Twin Lakes and through the Marron Valley to Kaleden Junction where it intersects with Highway 97, the North-South Okanagan route. Penticton is 14 km north of the junction; however, Highway 3A goes south at this point, past Okanagan Falls (6 km from the junction) to Oliver and Osoyoos. The distance south from the Kaleden Junction through Okanagan Falls and Oliver to Osoyoos on Highway 97 is about 50 km (30 mi).
Extra driving time should be allowed for traffic congestion (tourism) in the Okanagan in summer. There is also some agricultural traffic in both valleys. There is limited 3 and 4 laning.
See also
- Glass House (British Columbia)Glass House (British Columbia)The Glass House, built by the late David H. Brown, is located on the east shore of Kootenay Lake in British Columbia near the rural locality of Boswell, British Columbia. Construction started in 1952 in order to, according to a quote left by Mr. Brown, "indulge a whim of a peculiar nature"...
— a roadside attraction on highway 3A