| Province: | BC |
| Type: | Hwy |
| Route: | 16 |
| Alternate Name: | Yellowhead Highway Trans-Canada Highway |
| Map Custom: | yes |
| Map Notes: | Highway 16 highlighted in red. |
| Length Km: | 1173 |
| Established: | 1941 |
| Section1: | Haida Gwaii segment |
| Length Km1: | 101 |
| Direction A1: | North |
| Terminus A1: | Masset |
| Direction B1: | South |
| Terminus B1: | BC Ferries dock in Skidegate |
| Section2: | Mainland segment |
| Length Km2: | 1072 |
| Direction A2: | West |
| Terminus A2: | BC Ferries dock in Prince Rupert |
| Junction2: | in Terrace in Terrace in Kitwanga in Topley in Burns Lake near Vanderhoof in Prince George near Tête Jaune Cache |
| Direction B2: | East |
| Terminus B2: | Alberta border continues as |
| Previous Type: | Hwy |
| Previous Route: | 15 |
| Next Type: | Hwy |
| Next Route: | 17 |
Highway 16 is a highway in British Columbia, Canada. It is an important section of the Yellowhead Highway, a part of the Trans-Canada Highway that runs across Western Canada. 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 1947, 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[1] 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 101km (63miles) segment of the 1347adj=midNaNadj=mid BC highway begins in the west in the village of Masset, on the northern coast of Graham Island. Proceeding south, the highway goes 38km (24miles) to the inlet town of Port Clements. Winding its way along the boundary of Naikoon Provincial Park, Highway 16 goes south for 27km (17miles) before reaching the community of Tlell. 36km (22miles) south of Tlell, Highway 16 reaches Skidegate, where its Haida Gwaii section terminates.
BC Ferries then takes Highway 16 across the Hecate Strait for 172km (107miles) due northeast to its landing at Prince Rupert.
thumb|left|upright=1.1|Highway 16 heading west towards Prince Rupert from Terrace
From Prince Rupert, Highway 16 begins its winding route east through the Coast Mountain Ranges. Following the Skeena River, the highway travels for 151km (94miles) to the city of Terrace. Highway 37 merges onto Highway 16 from north of Highway 16, at the Kitwanga junction.[2] Another 43km (27miles) northeast, Highway 16 reaches New Hazelton, where it then veers southeast along the Bulkley River. 68km (42miles) later, the highway reaches the town of Smithers, proceeding southeast another 64km (40miles) to the village of Houston.
At Houston, Highway 16 begins a parallel course along the upper course of the Bulkley River, proceeding 81km (50miles) east to its junction with Highway 35, south of Burns Lake. 128km (80miles) east, after passing through the hamlet of Fraser Lake, Highway 16 reaches its junction with Highway 27 in the town of Vanderhoof. 97km (60miles) 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 9km (06miles).
120km (80miles) 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 82km (51miles) to McBride, then continues upstream for another 64km (40miles) to its junction with Highway 5 at Tête Jaune Cache. 14km (09miles) east of Tête Jaune Cache, Highway 16 enters Mount Robson Provincial Park, coursing through the park for 63km (39miles) to the boundary between British Columbia and Alberta within Yellowhead Pass.
In August 1925, this section opened[3] with the completion of the Burns Lake–Endako link.[4]
Highway extended west of New Hazelton by about 40NaN0 in 1927–28[5] and another 3.31NaN1 in 1928–29.[6] By 1931–32, Kitwanga–Hazelton was rated fairly good.[7] By mid-1943, the condition was rated rough, awaiting tendering of reconstruction contracts.[8]
By 1931–32, Cedarvale–Kitwanga was rated passable. For Usk–Cedarvale, several segments were under construction. During 1936–1941, a series of 1to stretches were completed,[9] which included replacing sections washed out by the 1936 flood.[10] By 1937, the Usk–Cedarvale gap still remained on the southeast shore.[11]
By 1940, a 20adj=onNaNadj=on gap remained.[12] In 1943, progress reactivated.[13] In May 1944, the gap completed[14] comprised the Pacific–Cedarvale section.[15]
Highway extended east of Terrace by about 20NaN0 in 1927–28 and another 3.71NaN1 in 1928–29. In September 1929, Terrace–Usk section completed.[16]
See main article: Highway of Tears. The Highway of Tears is a stretch of Highway 16 between Prince George and Prince Rupert.[22] Since 1970, numerous women have gone missing or have been murdered along the 720km (450miles) section of highway.[23] Aboriginal organizations speculate that number ranges above forty.[24]
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.[25] [26] [27]
From west to east, the following intersections are observed along Highway 16.[28] Distances exclude the 172km (107miles) ferry between Skidegate and Prince Rupert.