Highway 16 is a highway in British Columbia, Canada. It is British Columbia's important section of the Yellowhead Highway, a part of the Trans-Canada Highway that runs across Western Canada, from British Columbia's Graham Island east to Winnipeg, Manitoba, via Edmonton, Alberta, and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The highway closely follows the path of the northern B.C. alignment of the Canadian National Railway (CN). The number "16" was first given to the highway in 1941, and originally, the route that the highway took was more to the north of today's highway, and it was not as long as it is now. Highway 16 originally ran from New Hazelton east to Aleza Lake. In 1948, Highway 16's western end was moved from New Hazelton to the coastal city of Prince Rupert, and in 1953, the highway was re-aligned to end at Prince George. In 1969, further alignment east into Yellowhead Pass was opened to traffic after being constructed up through 1968 and raised to all-weather standards in 1969. Highway 16's alignment on Haida Gwaii was commissioned in 1983 and is connected to the mainland segment via BC Ferries route 11.
A series of murders and disappearances has given the stretch between Prince Rupert and Prince George the name "Highway of Tears".
The segment of the BC highway begins in the west in the village of Masset, on the northern coast of Graham Island, marking the western terminus of the Yellowhead Highway. Proceeding south, the highway goes to the inlet town of Port Clements. Winding its way along the boundary of Naikoon Provincial Park, Highway 16 goes south for before reaching the community of Tlell. south of Tlell, Highway 16 reaches Skidegate, where its Haida Gwaii section terminates at a ferry terminal.
BC Ferries then takes Highway 16 across the Hecate Strait for due northeast to its landing at Prince Rupert.
From Prince Rupert, Highway 16 begins its winding route east through the Coast Mountain Ranges. Following the Skeena River, the highway travels for to the city of Terrace. Highway 37 merges onto Highway 16 from north of Highway 16, at the Kitwanga junction. Another northeast, Highway 16 reaches New Hazelton, where it then veers southeast along the Bulkley River. later, the highway reaches the town of Smithers, proceeding southeast another to the village of Houston.
At Houston, Highway 16 begins a parallel course along the upper course of the Bulkley River, proceeding east to its junction with Highway 35, south of Burns Lake. east, after passing through the hamlet of Fraser Lake, Highway 16 reaches its junction with Highway 27 in the town of Vanderhoof. east of Vanderhoof, Highway 16 reaches its B.C. midpoint as it enters the city of Prince George at its junction with Highway 97. Highway 16 leaves Prince George after coursing through the city for .
east of Prince George, Highway 16 reaches the community of Dome Creek, where it converges with the Fraser River and turns southeast. It follows the Fraser River upstream for to McBride, then continues upstream for another to its junction with Highway 5 at Tête Jaune Cache. east of Tête Jaune Cache, Highway 16 enters Mount Robson Provincial Park, coursing through the park for to the boundary between British Columbia and Alberta (and also between Mount Robson Provincial Park and Jasper National Park) within Yellowhead Pass.
In August 1925, this section opened with the completion of the Burns LakeâÂÂEndako link.
Highway 16 was extended west of New Hazelton by about in 1927âÂÂ28 and another in 1928âÂÂ29. By 1931âÂÂ32, KitwangaâÂÂHazelton was rated fairly good. By mid-1943, the condition was rated rough, awaiting tendering of reconstruction contracts.
By 1931âÂÂ32, CedarvaleâÂÂKitwanga was rated passable. For UskâÂÂCedarvale, several segments were under construction. During 1936âÂÂ1941, a series of stretches were completed, which included replacing sections washed out by the 1936 flood. By 1937, the UskâÂÂCedarvale gap still remained on the southeast shore.
By 1940, a gap remained. In 1943, progress reactivated. In May 1944, the gap completed comprised the PacificâÂÂCedarvale section.
Highway 16 was extended east of Terrace by about in 1927âÂÂ28 and another in 1928âÂÂ29. In September 1929, TerraceâÂÂUsk section completed.
The Highway of Tears is a stretch of Highway 16 between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Since 1970, numerous women have gone missing or have been murdered along the section of highway. Aboriginal organizations speculate that number ranges above forty.
In 2016, the Canadian government launched the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women after communicating with victim families. This was done to find methods of slowing the violence within the Indigenous population.
In September 2020 a totem pole honouring missing and murdered Indigenous women was raised on the highway just outside Terrace.
From west to east, the following intersections are observed along Highway 16. Distances exclude the ferry route of BC Ferries between Skidegate and Prince Rupert.