Smoke could shut highway to Radium yet again

The highway from Banff National Park to Radium, B.C. has reopened, but motorists are advised smoke from a nearby wildfire could force another closure.

That’s led to uncertainty among Radium Hot Springs area merchants just ahead of a long weekend.

“Everyone’s on pins and needles — we’re not sure, it’s really dependent on what’s happening with the wind,” said Kent Kebe, manager of the Radium Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Merchants in the Columbia Valley are heavily dependent on visitors from Alberta, and they fear that the prospect of future closures of Highway 93 will dampen the tourist trade during a crucial summer long weekend, said Kebe.

“We’re a long ways from the fire, but we’re affected greatly by it.”

The Verdant Creek wildfire in Kootenay National Park has more than doubled in size to 11,000 hectares, reducing visibility along Highway 93 south of the TransCanada Highway. Smoke has started drifting into Radium, 100 kilometres away, and motels are reporting cancellations, said Kebe.

If the highway was closed again, it would be an immediate blow to commerce, said Janet McCauley, co-owner of Radium’s Crystal Springs Motel.

“It would be huge, we would feel that impact because on a long weekend, people aren’t just booking for one night but for three or four days at a time,” she said.

“I’ve had about 60 phone calls about this ... people are more concerned about the smoke here.”

Some Calgarians have made their way to Radium by taking the longer route via Highway 95 south from Golden, said McCauley.