Banff National Park

The entire segment of Highway 1 through the Banff National Park is maintained by the Government of Canada.^[5] All sections of Highway 1 in the National Park have wildlife fences and crossings to keep animals off the road while still allowing for migration. The speed limit on Highway 1 in the National Park is 90 km/h (56 mph).

British Columbia Highway 1 becomes Alberta Highway 1 as it crosses Kicking Horse Pass into Alberta (the pass also marks the boundary between Yoho National Park and Banff National Park).^[3] From the pass the 4 lane highway descends a moderate grade before turning southeast to follow the wide Bow River valley. Upon reaching the bottom of the hill Highway 1 crosses the Bow River for the first time. Immediately afterwards it reaches its first junction at an interchange to head north on Highway 93 (the Icefields Parkway). Highway 93 South runs concurrently with Highway 1 for the next 25 km (16 mi). Shortly after that Highway 1/93 crosses the Pipestone River and passes through another small diamond interchange at Lake Louise Drive servicing the Hamlet of Lake Louise, the Lake Louise Ski Resort, The Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A) and access to Lake Louise itself as well as Moraine Lake. From there the highway crosses the Bow River for the second time and travels along the west bank of the river passing by the Taylor Lake trailhead before reaching an important interchange for Highway 93 South (Banff-Radium Highway) which is also a midpoint access to the Bow Valley Parkway. From there the highway continues past two more at-grade trailhead turn-offs (Redearth and Bourgeau Lake) with views of the Sawback Range along the way. After passing an interchange for the Banff-Sunshine Ski Area the highway bends to the east, crosses the Bow River for a third time, and passes through a small interchange for the Bow Valley Parkway before climbing up from the river alongside a cliff with a rest area on the eastbound side giving views of Mount Rundle, the Banff townsite and the Vermilion Lakes. Shortly afterwards the highway then passes through an interchange servicing Banff and the Mt Norquay ski area. From there the highway bends to the southeast while passing through another interchange providing access to Banff and Lake Minnewanka. The highway then continues south along the benchlands above the Bow River before exiting the park 81 km (50 mi) kilometres from the BC border.

Canmore to Calgary

Upon exiting Banff National Park, Highway 1 is maintained by Alberta Transportation for 91 km (57 mi) until it reaches Calgary.^[6][7] This segment of the highway travels generally east through the rural municipalities of the Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8 and Rocky View County, It also briefly crosses a portion of Kananaskis Improvement District.^[8] This entire section is a controlled-access highway with no at grade intersections. The speed limit on this section of Highway 1 is 110 km/h (68 mph). Highway 1A (Bow Valley Trail), the original highway from Canmore to Calgary, is an alternate route to this segment of Highway 1, providing access to the Hamlet of Exshaw, the Summer Village of Ghost Lake, and the Town of Cochrane.^[6]

Shortly after leaving Banff Park the highway passes through the Hamlet of Harvie Heights and the mountain town of Canmore which is serviced by four interchanges, Highway 1A (Bow Valley Trail), Benchlands Trail, Highway 1A (Bow Valley Trail) and after crossing the Bow River, Alberta Highway 742 (Three Sisters Parkway). From there the highway curves east again and travels by the hamlets of Dead Man's Flats and Lac des Arcs each serviced by its own interchange. A westbound rest area on the shore of Lac des Arcs provides access to the water. From there the highway exits the mountains passing the interchange for Alberta Highway 1X, a 1 km (0.62 mi) connection to Highway 1A (also used to access Bow Valley Provincial Park). It then crosses the Kananaskis River, enters the Stoney-Nakoda First Nation Reserve and shortly afterwards passes the interchange for Alberta Highway 40 (Kananaskis Trail), the main access to Kananaskis Country. The highway then continues east across the Morley Reserve passing by 3 more interchanges for minor reserve roads before climbing up a short but steep hill to a high point at Jack Lake Hill and exiting the Reserve. After descending from the hill Highway 1 passes a small interchange for little used Highway 68 and continues due east across level terrain and agricultural lands passing through several other small interchanges. As it approaches Calgary the highway passes an important interchange at Highway 22 servicing the town of Cochrane and Bragg Creek,^[6] where traffic volumes double. Traffic continues to pick up as it passes through the Springbank semi-rural area through two more interchanges at Springbank Road and Highway 563 (Old Banff Coach Road) after which the highway widens from 4 to 8 lanes and enters Calgary city limits. Immediately after entering Calgary, the highway enters a large free-flowing combination interchange with Stoney Trail (Highway 201) after which Alberta Transportation authority ends and Highway 1 becomes City of Calgary-maintained 16th Avenue.

16th Avenue

In Calgary, Highway 1 follows 16 Avenue N and is maintained by the City of Calgary for its 27 km (17 mi) length. Plans for a crosstown Highway 1 Freeway were cancelled decades ago, leaving the city section of Highway 1 as primarily an urban arterial road. Stoney Trail (Highway 201) provides an alternate controlled-access freeway route around the north and south sides of the city and is the signed bypass of 16 Avenue. It is also possible to head south on Stoney Trail to link up with Alberta Highway 22X in South Calgary, which eventually connects back to Highway 1 near Gleichen.

After the Interchange with Stoney Trail, 16th Avenue continues as a freeway passing through an interchange with Canada Olympic Drive and Sarcee Trail before crossing the Bow River for the fifth and final time entering the neighbourhood of Montgomery. There, the freeway ends, and the speed limit drops to 50 km/h (31 mph) with 16th Avenue becoming a 4-lane "urban boulevard" (as defined by the City of Calgary) with multiple signal lights.^[9] After exiting Montgomery, 16th Avenue begins short 4-lane expressway section with some small interchanges at Shaganappi Trail, West Campus Way, University Drive and Crowchild Trail (as well as a signalized interchange at 29th Street) as it passes by the Foothills Medical Centre and McMahon Stadium. It then enters central Calgary and becomes a heavily developed, 6-lane urban boulevard once again passing through 21 signal lights before reaching Deerfoot Trail (Highway 2) where it crosses the major freeway on a split diamond interchange featuring more signal lights on 16th Avenue. In East Calgary the highway becomes a 4-lane expressway once again passing through three interchanges (Barlow Trail, 36th Street, and 52nd Street) and two signal lights (19th Street and 68th Street) before City of Calgary authority ends and Highway 1 enters an Alberta Transportation maintained free-flowing interchange with Stoney Trail (Highway 201) at the edge of the city.

Calgary to Saskatchewan

Upon exiting Calgary, Highway 1 is maintained by Alberta Transportation for 273 km (170 mi) until it reaches the City of Medicine Hat.^[6][7] This segment of the highway generally travels in a southeast direction through the rural municipalities of Rocky View County, Wheatland County, the County of Newell, and Cypress County.^[8] The speed limit on the highway east of Calgary is mostly 110 km/h (68 mph) except in Medicine Hat and Strathmore.

Upon exiting Calgary the highway becomes a rural expressway with at-grade intersections and limited interchanges. Shortly after leaving Calgary the highway enters the City of Chestermere and passes through an interchange at Chestermere Boulevard (formerly Highway 1A).^[6] From there Highway 1 goes straight east through flat terrain with the only major junctions being an interchange for Highway 9 and at grade intersections for Highway 791 and Highway 24. It then enters the town of Strathmore (which features a 50 km/h (31 mph) speed limit and several signal lights) marking the limit of most Calgary commuter traffic. From there on east to Medicine Hat the highway is flat and has few corners. There are no significant communities along this long section of highway except for Bassano, Brooks, and Suffield, and no interchanges except at two junctions in Brooks. The only noteworthy junctions on this stretch of Highway 1 are at Highway 56 and Highway 36 (both at grade).

Within Medicine Hat, Highway 1 is a controlled access highway with 6 interchanges.^[7] The majority of the highway in the city is a freeway; however, a section between the South Saskatchewan River and Seven Persons Creek still has a few at-grade intersections. The length of Highway 1 within Medicine Hat is 13 km (8 mi).^[6]

East of Medicine Hat, Highway 1 is maintained by Alberta Transportation for 48 km (30 mi) until it enters the Province of Saskatchewan,^[6][7] continuing as Saskatchewan Highway 1.^[3] This segment of the highway generally travels in an east direction through Cypress County.^[8] For urban communities, this segment passes through the Hamlet of Dunmore and by the hamlets of Irvine and Walsh.^[6] Highway 41 (which has a short concurrency with Highway 1) is the only noteworthy junction east of Medicine Hat.

Strathmore

Alberta Transportation has plans for a bypass around the Town of Strathmore.^[17] Initial proposals included a realignment northwest of Gleichen, continuing west to run south of Eagle Lake and then continuing northwest where it will rejoin the existing alignment near Cheadle, between Highway 24 and Strathmore, as well as a link to the Highway 22X corridor.^[18] The final proposal is a more scaled back realignment around Strathmore to the south, bypassing approximately 8 kilometres (5 mi) of existing Highway 1,^[1][17] and the right-of-way is currently designated as Highway 1X.^[6] There is no timeline for construction.

Medicine Hat

The Trans-Canada Highway has a few remaining signalized intersections within Medicine Hat, and Alberta Transportation is studying both a long-term realignment of Highway 1, as well as possible upgrades to the existing alignment. The realignment would bypass Redcliff, Medicine Hat and Dunmore to the south, bypassing approximately 33 kilometres (21 mi) of existing Highway 1,^[1][19] and the right-of-way is also currently designated as Highway 1X.^[6] Possible upgrades to the existing alignment include a new interchange at 1 Street SW and intersection closures at 6 Street SW and 16 Street SW.^[20][21] There is no timeline for the bypass construction or any upgrades to the existing alignment.