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Highway Construction: Part 2The Big Bend Highway came into being almost fifty years after it was first proposed to give access to the vast timber and mineral resources of the territory. A rough wagon road was all that existed for many years.
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Pack trains on Big Bend wagon road.1900
Big Bend, Selkirk Mountains, British Columbia, Canada
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Pack trains on Big Bend wagon road, c. 1900.4
In 1928, the provincial and federal governments came to an agreement on shared costs for the Big Bend Highway. Clearing and surveying began at that time but progress was slow. During the depression of the 1930s relief camps were established in the Big Bend and the men living in the camps provided labour for road construction. The Revelstoke Review of June 29, 1940 reported: "The camps were established for single, homeless and unemployed men. They applied for admission at the local court house and when they were accepted, were assigned to a camp where they obtained an outfit of clothing, comfortable quarters, meals and were given 20 cents a day. In return they cut wood for the camps and were expected to do some road work. There was the odd truck, cat and grader, but mostly it was pick, rake, shovel and hand scraper. The man in charge of the whole operation in this district was Major McLowe. The camps were inspected by the medical health officer twice a week and he had nothing but the highest praise for the manner in which the camps were conducted…At the relief camps, a typical noon day meal consisted of soup, roast beef, carrots, potatoes, gravy, huckleberry and raspberry pie. In addition to a substantial first course, cake, jelly roll, doughnuts or cookies were on the table for the evening meal. Almost every camp had a softball team and throughout the summer games were played between the camp teams and Revelstoke nines."5
Cutting giant cedars before the construction of the Big Bend Highway.1936
Big Bend, Selkirk Mountains, British Columbia, Canada
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Cutting giant cedars before the construction of the Big Bend Highway, c. 1936.7
Crew working on Big Bend Highway.1936
Big Bend, Selkirk Mountains, British Columbia, Canada
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Crew working on Big Bend Highway, c. 1930s.9
Great plans were made for the opening of the Big Bend Highway which took place at 11 am, June 29, 1940 at Boat Encampment, where a fine steel bridge carried the highway across the Columbia River. The provincial police were there to marshal the hundreds of cars that were lined up on both sides of the bridge. The bridge itself was decorated with bunting as was the platform provided for the numerous officials. Mrs. Fred Fraser, the first married woman to come to Revelstoke in 1885 was given a place of honour at the platform and was welcomed by Premier Patullo.10
Official opening of the Big Bend Highway at Boat Encampment.29 June 1940
Boat Encampment, Columbia River, British Columbia, Canada
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Official opening of the Big Bend Highway at Boat Encampment, June 29, 1940.12
In the 1960s, while the Mica Dam was being constructed, the road was rebuilt and paved from Revelstoke to the dam site. Most of the gravel road from Mica Dam to Donald disappeared under the water of the lake created behind the dam. In the 1980s, much of the 136 kilometres to Mica Dam had to be relocated because of the building of the Revelstoke Dam and the new lake it created.13
Map of Big Bend Highway from the commemorative booklet.29 June 1940
Big Bend, Selkirk Mountains, British Columbia, Canada
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Map of Big Bend Highway from the commemorative booklet. |
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