Highway 93 has been opened and closed sporadically over the past two weeks because of sometimes heavy smoke from the Wardle wildfire.
The highway runs from Highway 1/Trans-Canada Highway at Castle Mountain, Alta., to Highway 95 at Radium, B.C.
Closures have typically been between these two points.
Authorities recommend travellers check the status of the highway on 511 Alberta and Drive B.C. websites.
Drivers can take Highway 1 to Golden, then south via Highway 95, as an alternate route to Highway 93.
The government said the following factors are evaluated when closing and opening the highway:
- The risk of trees falling onto the highway
- Anticipated movement of fire
- Heavy amounts of smoke that could affect visibility
When Highway 93 is open, the portion of the road from the Paint Pots to Olive Lake is a designated no-stopping zone for the safety of the public and fire personnel.
When the highway is accessible, the government urges drivers to travel through the area between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. because fire activity tends to be reduced during these hours.
The Wardle wildfire is located in the Vermilion Valley in Kootenay National Park.
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