Crews continue to remove debris and hazard trees along the Icefields Parkway (93N) with the goal of opening it as early as 7 a.m. on Friday (Aug. 23).
Motorists won’t be allowed to stop along the parkway once reopened and should be prepared for no service availability from the Athabasca Glacier to Hinton to the east, and Valemount or McBride to the west.
“All areas require further hazard assessments and danger tree removal before allowing traffic to stop safely,” Parks Canada stated in an update.
“Once hazards have been addressed, scenic viewpoints along roadways and day-use areas also require services before they can reopen including emergency response, garbage collection, washroom cleaning, maintenance and repairs.”
A portion of the Icefields Parkway has already been reopened between the Saskatchewan River Crossing and the Columbia Icefield.
Parks Canada also plans to open portions of Pyramid Lake Road in the coming days, which would allow residents, who are only allowed in the townsite right now, to access a natural area.
“We understand Jasperites need to reconnect to nature to facilitate the healing process,” Parks Canada stated.
Crews will move to work on reopening secondary roads such as 93A (from Marmot Basin to 93N), Marmot Basin Road and Whistlers Road.
Parks Canada will share updates on reopening these roads when available.
Highway 16 is now fully open 24/7, but non-residents are not allowed to stop inside Jasper National Park or access the townsite.
Motorists are asked to check 511 Alberta before travelling.
Wildfire update
The Jasper Wildfire Complex continues to be classified as “being held.”
Smoke may be visible from Whistlers Mountain near the SkyTram base station, Overlander trail and Maligne valley.
Parks Canada asked the public to only report smoke outside the wildfire perimeter.
To report new wildfires, call Parks Canada Dispatch at 780-852-6155.
Only two trails are currently open in Jasper Nation Park: Toe of the Glacier at the Athabasca Glacier and Source of the Springs near Miette Hot Springs.
Parks Canada asked the public to take extra care on these trails, noting that a rescue at the Athabasca Glacier on Tuesday (Aug. 19) required a helicopter to be diverted from the wildfire response.
“We appreciate your patience in respecting park closures and restrictions,” the agency stated.
“We are working every day to extinguish the wildfire, assess hazards, and reopen areas when we can ensure your safety and have staff and resources to provide services.”
