'Didn't even know this was on the map': Visitors, businesses in Radium, B.C. take closure in stride
Any construction delay is often a source of frustration for many drivers, but for a community nestled in the Rockies, it's an opportunity to be noticed.
The Trans-Canada Highway is closed for a 10-kilometre stretch just east of Golden, B.C. as construction resumed on the Kicking Horse Canyon Project – a planned redevelopment of the highway into a two-lane route that has gentler curves and an increased attention to safety.
Because of the work, travellers are once again detoured along Highways 93S and 95 into the village of Radium, B.C., a community that is approximately 130 kilometres south of Lake Louise, Alta.
Some of the drivers that CTV News spoke with on Wednesday say they don't mind driving out of their way for the visit.
"We've stopped before and we've actually stopped at this market before," said one woman who was driving north from Vancouver.
"We liked the market, so we planned this stop because we knew we were coming this way – we had to come this way."
Even those taken by surprise by the closure were happy to stop in the village.
"We wouldn't have stopped here," said a tourist from California. "We didn't even know this was on the map.
"So, it's an interesting stop – but the drive through is beautiful!"
Not just tourists are happy with the added traffic. Radium business owners say they couldn't be happier with the economic bump.
"Bottom line, there's more people coming through because the weather is nice," said Carleen Campbell, owner of the Bighorn Café.
"It's not as crazy as the summer, but we still have a bump up in our shoulder season, which basically started after September long weekend."
Officials, as well as other businesses, say Radium is suffering from some of the same challenges that other, higher profile, communities like Banff and Lake Louise.
Nico Pascua, who helps manage local businesses in the village, says food supplies need to be managed throughout the whole season.
"We make sure we increase the number of our foods and stuff like that – we know they're coming because we know the highway is closed – for sure people are coming here," he said.
"One of the things that we're trying to encourage travelers to remember is that we are a village and we had staffing problems all summer," said Radium's mayor Clara Reinhardt about some of the community's additional obstacles.
"That hasn't really gone away as young people go back to school. It's so important that people plan their trip and check to see what's open."
The detour is scheduled to be in place until Dec. 1.
(With files from Bill Macfarlane)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.