British Columbia provincial highway 16
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British Columbia provincial highway 16 is the B.C. section of the Yellowhead Highway. The highway closely follows the path of the northern B.C. alignment of the Canadian National Railway. The number '16' was first given to the highway in 1942, 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 an obscure location known as 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 extended all the way east into Yellowhead Pass. Highway 16's alignment on the Queen Charlotte Islands was commissioned in 1984, with BC Ferries beginning service along Highway 16 to the Queen Charlottes the following year.
Route details
The 1,347 km-long B.C. segment of Highway 16 begins in the west in the village of Masset, on the northern coast of Graham Island. Proceeding south, the highway goes 38 km to the inlet town of Port Clements. Winding its way along the boundary of Naikoon Provincial Park, Highway 16 goes south for 27 km before reaching the community of Tlell. 36 km south of Tlell, Highway 16 reaches Skidegate, where its Queen Charlotte section terminates. BC Ferries then takes Highway 16 across the Hecate Strait for 172 km 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 151 km to the city of Terrace. Highway 37 merges onto Highway 16 in Terrace, and the two highways share a common alignment for 91 km northeast to the Kitwanga junction, where Highway 37 diverges north. Another 43 km northeast, Highway 16 reaches New Hazelton, where it then veers southeast along the Bulkley River. 68 km later, the highway reaches the town of Smithers, proceeding southeast another 64 km to the village of Houston.
At Houston, Highway 16 begins a parallel course along the Nechako River, proceeding 81 km east to its junction with Highway 35 at Burns Lake. 128 km east, after passing through the hamlet of Fraser Lake, Highway 16 reaches its junction with Highway 27 in the town of Vanderhoof. 97 km 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 9 km.
120 km 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 82 km to McBride, then continues upstream for another 64 km to its junction with Highway 5 at Tête Jaune Cache. 14 km east of Tête Jaune Cache, Highway 16 enters Mount Robson Provincial Park, coursing through the park for 63 km to the boundary between British Columbia and Alberta within Yellowhead Pass.
| Provincial Highways of British Columbia | 
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