Project: Glacier National Park – Trans-Canada Highway Avalanche Mitigation Project

Client: McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd, Parks Canada

The Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) is threatened by 134 avalanche paths through Glacier National Park (GNP), which cause highway closures and risk to highway users. In 2015, Parks Canada initiated the TCH – Avalanche Mitigation Project for GNP, aiming to reduce avalanche risk and reduce closure time.

Dynamic analyzed existing avalanche mitigation measures, determined necessary upgrades, updated priority rankings and made recommendations for the installation of new avalanche control systems, including snow nets and remote avalanche control systems. A total of 8 mitigation measures were selected for construction in 18 avalanche paths. Construction of these mitigation measures began in 2016 and is scheduled for completion in 2020.