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The Daily Insight

How long is Coquihalla Highway?

Author

Rachel Newton

Updated on February 28, 2026

337.6 mi

Simply so, how long is the Coquihalla Pass?

Coquihalla Highway

It is a 186 km (116 mi) freeway, varying between four and six lanes with a speed limit of 120 km/h (75 mph) for most of its length. The Coquihalla approximately traces through the Cascade Mountains the route of the former Kettle Valley Railway, which existed between 1912 and 1958.

Beside above, what is Canada's busiest highway? Hwy 401 between Hwy 427 & Yonge St

The 401 has been called the busiest highway in Canada, but also the busiest highway in the world. Southern Ontario is a big, highly populated area, and having only one major highway tends to clog things up.

Likewise, what is the highest point on the Coquihalla Highway?

Coquihalla Summit (el. 1,244 m or 4,081 ft) is a highway summit along the Coquihalla Highway in British Columbia, Canada.

Coquihalla Summit
Southern approach to Coquihalla Summit as viewed from Yak Peak
Elevation 1,244 m (4,081 ft)
Traversed by Highway 5 (Coquihalla Highway)

How long did the Coquihalla Highway take to build?

Construction of the Coquihalla: Still Amazing After 30 Years. It was the most ambitious highway project in the province's history.

Related Question Answers

Is it safe to drive the Coquihalla?

Coquihalla Highway

This is an extreme freeway located in British Columbia. It's around 200 kilometers long, and one of the worst roads during the North American winter. It's steep on both ends to the point that most truckers avoid driving on it because of the extra gas expenses that causes.

How much is the toll on the Coquihalla?

Yes, there is a toll on the Coquihalla highway (#5). For a regular size vehicle and 2 passengers, we paid $10. This is a four lane divided highway, as opposed to your other option which is a winding two lane non-divided highway. Depends on how much time you want to take and what driving conditions you prefer.

Is the Coquihalla safe in summer?

The road climbs up the Coquihalla Pass, a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.244m (4,081ft) above the sea level. It can often be treacherous, with ice and snow accumulating even in the summer, so exercise caution as you make your way.

What's the weather like on the Coquihalla Highway?

Hwy 5, southbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit, looking southwest.

Weather Forecast (from Environment Canada)

Tonight Periods of rain ending this evening then partly cloudy. Wind becoming northeast 20 km/h gusting to 40 this evening. Temperature steady near 9.
Friday Periods of rain. High 12.

Where is the Coquihalla Pass?

Coquihalla pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.244m (4,081ft) above the sea level, located in the Canadian Cascades, in British Columbia, Canada. The pass is traversed by the spectacular Coquihalla Highway.

How much did it cost to build the Coquihalla Highway?

The total cost of all three phases of the Coquihalla was $955 million. This route significantly reduced travel time, and was originally opened as a toll-highway.

Where does the Coquihalla start and end?

Location: The Coquihalla Highway runs from Hope north to Kamloops via Merritt. Hope, at the eastern end of the Fraser Valley, is the hub for three major routes leading north: Highway 1, Highway 3, and Highway 5. The latter, the Coquihalla Highway, is a route to Merritt and Kamloops.

Where is the rock cut on the Coquihalla?

The rock cut is 90 metres from the top down to the road surface, and interestingly, the bridge is 90 metres above the Kicking Horse River, supported by massive concrete pillars.

What's the highest point in Canada?

Mount Logan, mountain, highest point (19,551 feet [5,959 metres]) in Canada and second highest in North America (after Denali [Mount McKinley] in the U.S. state of Alaska). It is located in the St. Elias Mountains of southwestern Yukon.

How high is Scott Lake Hill?

Scott Lake Hill | Scott Lake Hill, elevation 1414 m (4626 fe… Flickr.

What is the steepest road in BC?

White Rock, B.C., is a bit like Canada's San Francisco in that every part that isn't a beach is a hill. One of its steepest stretches, Oxford Street Hill, reaches a grade of 23 per cent and is often closed to motorists in poor weather.

How steep is Rogers Pass?

Despite its relatively low elevation (4,354 feet [1,327 metres] above sea level), attempts to lay track through the pass cost so many lives from avalanches down its steep valley sides that instead the 5-mile- (8-km-) long Connaught Tunnel was built in 1916 beneath the pass.

How high is Paulson Pass?

Located east of Grand Forks, Paulson Summit has an elevation of 1,446 metres. Kootenay Pass is west of Creton and has an elevation of 1,781 metres.

What is the highest speed limit in the world?

The first numeric speed limit for automobiles was the 10 mph (16 km/h) limit introduced in the United Kingdom in 1861. The highest posted speed limit in the world is 160 km/h (99 mph), which applies to two motorways in the UAE.

What is the longest highway in the world?

Spanning some 19,000 miles, the Pan-American Highway is the longest roadway in the world. Starting in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, the road moves south, passing through Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central America.

How long is Yonge St?

Yonge Street is 1896 km (1178 miles) from the Lake Shore in Toronto to Rainy River at the Ontario/Minnesota border. Some argue that Yonge Street is only 56 km at the point where Highway 11 takes over. It became Toronto's main street at the end of the 19th Century.

Where is the world's widest highway?

"With 26 lanes in certain parts, the Katy Freeway, or Interstate 10, is the widest highway in the world. It serves more than 219,000 vehicles daily in Texas. Built in the 1960s, Interstate 10 expands across a 23-mile stretch from its intersection with Interstate 610 to the city of Katy in Texas."

Where does 407 start and end?

Highway 407 ETR extends 108 km (67 miles) from the QEW/403 (Burlington, ON) in the west to Brock Road (Pickering, ON) in the east. There are 198 ramps on 407 ETR to conveniently enter or exit the highway. Provincially-owned Highway 407 continues east of Brock Road once you reach the end of 407 ETR.

How much can you go over the speed limit in Canada?

If you are an American and see a speed limit of “100†while travelling in Canada, that doesn't mean you can go 100 miles/hour. This means 100 kilometres/hour and translates to just a bit more than 60 mph.

Speed Limits in Canada.

Kilometers per hour Miles per hour
60 37
80 50
100 62
120 75

What is the 401 known for?

Highway 401, also known as the Macdonald–Cartier Freeway, is the busiest highway in North America. 420,000 vehicles drive on its 500 miles every day. Since its completion in the 1960s, the highway has served drivers in the southern, central and eastern parts of Ontario, Canada.

Is the Coquihalla open?

While it is now open, officials said it is for essential travel only, there are no facilities available, no stopping allowed and no access to on and off ramps. Drivers are also being urged to watch for crews on the road, wildlife and debris from the fire.

What is a snow shed in Canada?

Actually, it's more like a tunnel – a concrete cover built over the road to protect traffic from avalanches. Snow sheds are designed to withstand the incredible forces involved with vast amounts of sliding snow, however they're not meant to stop it.

What kind of tires do I need for the Coquihalla?

“The tires must be in good condition and have a minimum tread depth of 3.5 millimetres. For rural highways and mountain passes, tires with the mountain/snowflake symbol provide the best traction and handling.â€

When did they build the Coquihalla Highway?

The Coquihalla Highway was built in three phases. Phase I, from Hope to Merritt, was completed in 1986. This involved some 137 kilometres of heavy construction through a mountain pass and hill country. Phase II, from Merritt to Kamloops, opened in September 1987.

Where is the Great Bear Snowshed?

Great Bear Snow Shed on the Coquihalla Highway, British Columbia, Canada.