 .svg) Highway 49 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors | ||||
| Length | 265.9 km[1] (165.2 mi) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end |  Highway 49 atBritish Columbia border | |||
| Major intersections | ||||
| South end |  Highway 43 inValleyview | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | Canada | |||
| Province | Alberta | |||
| Specialized and rural municipalities | Saddle Hills County,Spirit River No. 133 M.D.,Birch Hills County,Smoky River No. 130 M.D.,Greenview No. 16 M.D. | |||
| Towns | Spirit River,Falher,Valleyview | |||
| Villages | Rycroft,Donnelly | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
Alberta Provincial Highway No. 49, commonly referred to asHighway 49, is a highway innorthwestern Alberta, Canada. It runs east–west from theBritish Columbiaborder toDonnelly, and then north–south toValleyview.[2] Highway 49 has a total length of 266 kilometres (165 mi).[1]
The portion of Highway 49 from Donnelly to the British Columbia is also known as theSpirit River Highway. It also comprises the westernmost segment of Alberta's portion of theNorthern Woods and Water Route. After Donnelly, the Northern Woods and Water Route continues eastward alongHighway 2 and thenHighway 55.[3][4] Its southernmost section, betweenHighway 2 andHighway 43, is designated as a core route of Canada'sNational Highway System.
Highway 49 begins at the Alberta/British Columbia border (where it continues asBritish Columbia Highway 49 to the City ofDawson Creek) 8 km (5.0 mi) west of the locality ofBay Tree and is part of the Northern Woods and Water Route. The highway passes through Bay Tree, the locality ofGordondale, the Town ofSpirit River, before intersecting Highway 2 in the Village ofRycroft. The highway continues east, passing by the hamlets ofWanham,Eaglesham,Tangent, andWatino before crossing theSmoky River. The highway then passes by the Village ofGirouxville and the Town ofFalher before again intersecting Highway 2, approximately 2 km (1 mi) west of the Village of Donnelly.[1]
At the Highway 2 intersection, known locally as the 'Donnelly Corner', Highway 49 turns south and becomes part of a core route of Canada's National Highway System while the Northern Woods and Water Route continues eastward along Highway 2. The highway passesGuy andNew Fish Creek before entering Valleyview and terminating at an intersection with Highway 43.[3]
The southern and easternmost sections of Highway 49 have seen a variety of highway designations.
Prior to 1990, Highway 49 continued east past Donnelly and through the Town ofMcLennan before terminating at Highway 2 inTriangle, 14 km (8.7 mi) west of the Town ofHigh Prairie, along present-day Highway 2. At the same time, its present-day alignment between Donnelly and Valleyview was designated asHighway 34.[5][6]
In 1990/1991, Highway 34 between Valleyview and Donnelly was renumbered to Highway 43 and Highway 49 between Triangle and Donnelly was renumbered to Highway 2, resulting in Highway 49 terminating at the Donnelly Corner.[6]
Finally, on March 1, 1998, Highway 43 between Valleyview and Donnelly was renumbered to Highway 49 to allow for Highway 43 to travel west from Valleyview to Grande Prairie and the British Columbia border.[7]
Alberta Transportation is conducting planning studies for upgrades along the Highway 2/49 corridor betweenPeace River and Valleyview,[8][9] which includes twinning the portion of Highway 49 south of Donnelly[9] and constructing a bypass around Valleyview.[10] There is no timeline for construction.
