Bow Valley Parkway in Banff no longer has a stop zone

A popular highway in Alberta's Banff National Park has a “no stopping zone” to help protect two bears.

According to Parks Canada, the 320-metre “no-parking zone” will be in Bow Valley Park between Baker Creek and Defense Mountain Campground.

This change has been introduced since April 2 to help bears that have been “insisting” on eating grain spilled in the area along the railway line.

“Photos and videos of bears are circulating on social media, and many visitors are traveling to the area in search of opportunities to see wildlife,” explained Friday's news release.

“Parks Canada has received and responded to a number of documented reports over the past 10 days of bear congestion, unsafe parking and people abandoning their vehicles to approach bears.”

Spokesman James Eastham said the grain itself is too scattered to effectively clean up Parks Canada.

They tried to use hazing to prevent the bears from spending time on the road, but their efforts failed.

A 320-meter “no-parking zone” will be in Bow Valley Park between Baker Creek and Conservation Mountain Campground. (Parks Canada) Bears can suddenly leave the tracks to avoid trains, Eastham said, causing them to speed toward the track, making it especially dangerous for people outside their vehicles.

“Space in the area is also limited and cannot provide a safe sight distance of 100 meters between people and bears,” he said in a press release.

“There is no road in the area, and traffic is obstructed by parked cars.”

The Horse Bridge has been reduced to one lane

After erosion damage was discovered, the Kicking Horse Bridge was reduced to one lane of alternating traffic. (Parks Canada) Also, Parks Canada announced Friday that the Kicking Horse Bridge was reduced to one lane of alternating traffic after erosion damage to the wing wall was discovered.

Delays are expected in the area until the wall and riverbank are stabilized, with the project expected to take two weeks.

The bridge is located between Wapta Falls and Hoodoo Creek Campground.