Highway 26 is an east–west highway in central Alberta, Canada that connects Highway 13 in Camrose to Highway 14 near Kinsella. The route follows 12th Correction Line for its entire length, and does not pass through any communities east of Camrose.
 Highway 26 | ||||
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| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors | ||||
| Length | 82.0 km[1] (51.0 mi) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end |  Highway 13 in Camrose | |||
 Highway 56 near Camrose Highway 36 near Viking | ||||
| East end |  Highway 14 near Kinsella | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | Canada | |||
| Province | Alberta | |||
| Specialized and rural municipalities | Camrose County, Beaver County | |||
| Major cities | Camrose | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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The Highway 26 designation first belonged to a stretch of road near Drumheller. The present-day alignment near Camrose was not commissioned until the 1970s, and in 2009 was extended from Highway 36 to reach the current eastern terminus at Highway 14.
Route description
editHighway 26 begins in the eastern outskirts of Camrose where it splits due east from Highway 13, which bends southeast toward Ohaton.[2] Highway 26 proceeds east along the 12th Correction Line,[2][3] first meeting the northern terminus of Highway 56, which prior to 2021 was Highway 834 south.[4] Highways 26 and 834 were concurrent for 5.2 km (3.2 mi) before Highway 834 branches off north to Round Hill. Highway 26 continues east, intersecting Highways 854, 855 and 857. Highway 26 meets Highway 36 approximately 12 km (7 mi) southwest of Viking and the two highways run concurrently for 3 km (2 mi) before Highway 36 turns north into Viking. After leaving Highway 36, the highway continues east to its end at Highway 14, approximately 4 km (2 mi) west of Kinsella.[2][5]
History
editThe original alignment of Highway 26 was in Kneehill County west of Drumheller. It began at Highway 9 and ran north for 20 km (12 mi), travelling north along present-day Highway 836 to Carbon, then turned west along present-day Highway 575 to its intersection with Highway 21.[6][7] In 1962, Highway 21A was renumbered and absorbed as part of Highway 26,[8][9] resulting in it continuing west along present-day Highway 575 to Acme, then south along present-day Highway 806 to Highway 9 in Beiseker, a total distance of 52 km (32 mi).[7] In 1970, Highway 26 was decommissioned and in subsequent years was renumbered to its current designations.[10][11]
The section of present-day Highway 26 between Camrose and Highway 36 was commissioned in the late 1970s[12] and was incrementally paved throughout the 1980s.[13][14] In 2009, Highway 615 between Highway 36 and Highway 14 was renumbered to become part of Highway 26.[15]
Major intersections
editFrom west to east:[16]
| Location | km[1] | mi | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camrose | 0.0 | 0.0 | Highway 13 (48 Avenue) – Wetaskiwin, Provost | ||
| Camrose County | 5.8 | 3.6 | Highway 56 south – Stettler | Former Hwy 834 south | |
| 11.0 | 6.8 |  Highway 834 north – Round Hill, Tofield | |||
| 23.9 | 14.9 |  Highway 854 – Ryley, Bawlf | |||
| Beaver County | 36.9 | 22.9 |  Highway 855 – Holden, Daysland | ||
| 50.2 | 31.2 |  Highway 857 north – Bruce | |||
| 64.1 | 39.8 | Highway 36 south – Killam | West end of Hwy 36 concurrency | ||
| 68.0 | 42.3 | Highway 36 north – Viking, Two Hills | East end of Hwy 36 concurrency | ||
| 82.0 | 51.0 | Highway 14 – Edmonton, Wainwright | West of Kinsella | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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References
edit- ^ a b "Highway 26 in Alberta" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
- ^ a b c "2016 Provincial Highway 1-216 Progress Chart" (PDF). Alberta Transportation. March 2016. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
- ^ "Alberta's Township System". Alberta Land Surveyors' Association. 2016. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ "Renumbering the Portion of Highway 834 Between Highways 13 and 26 To Highway 56" (PDF). Camrose County Outlook. Camrose County: 7. October 2021. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
Effective mid-September the 2.5 mile portion of Highway 834 between Highways 13 and 26 was renumbered to Highway 56.
- ^ "Hwy 14: Hwy 26 to Kinsella, AB" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
- ^ Department of Public Works (1939). Alberta Official Road Map (PDF) (Map). Government of Alberta. § D-3.
- ^ a b "Former Highway 26 in Southern Alberta" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
- ^ Alberta Official Road Map (Map). Government of the Province of Alberta. 1962. §§ J-7, J-8.
- ^ Alberta Official Road Map (Map). Government of the Province of Alberta. 1963. §§ J-7, J-8.
- ^ Alberta Official Road Map (Map). Government of the Province of Alberta. 1970. §§ J-7, J-8.
- ^ Alberta Official Road Map (Map). Government of the Province of Alberta. 1971. §§ J-7, J-8.
- ^ Alberta Official Road Map (Map). Government of Alberta. 1978–1979. §§ J-6, J-7.
- ^ Travel Alberta (1988). Alberta Official Road Map (Map). Government of Alberta. §§ J-6, J-7.
- ^ Travel Alberta (1990). Alberta Official Road Map (Map). Government of Alberta. §§ J-6, J-7.
- ^ "Media Release" (PDF). Beaver County. 2009-06-02. Retrieved 2009-09-09.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Alberta Road Atlas (2007 ed.). Oshawa, ON: MapArt Publishing Corp. 2008. pp. 65–66. ISBN 978-1-55368-019-2.