Saskatchewan Highway 956 Explained

Province:	SK
Type:	Hwy
Route:	956
Alternate Name:	Garson Lake Road
Photo Notes:	Highway 956 road bridge over the La Loche River
Photo Width:	250
Length Km:	44
Established:	1999
Direction A:	West
Terminus A:	Alberta border, near Garson Lake Winter road continues west
Direction B:	East
Terminus B:	near La Loche
Rural Municipalities:	Northern Administration District
Previous Type:	Hwy
Previous Route:	955
Next Type:	Hwy
Next Route:	962

Highway 956, also known as the Garson Lake Road, is a provincial highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from the Alberta border until Highway 155. It is about .^[1]

Highway 956 is meant to connect the community of La Loche to Fort McMurray, Alberta. Beyond the Alberta border, the same route continues west as the 65-km La Loche Winter Trail^[2] winter road to Alberta Highway 881, about south of Anzac, Alberta and about south of Fort McMurray.

History

• Construction began in 1986 and completed in 1999.^[3]
• In 1999, as part of the Saskatchewan provincial budget, a project was begun to gravel of Highway 956.^[4]
• In September 2005, to celebrate the centennials of Saskatchewan and Alberta, Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert and Alberta Premier Ralph Klein announced a project costing $45 million to connect La Loche and Fort McMurray with an all-season road. The premiers explained that this would create economic and recreational opportunities, as well as improved access to services and schools.^[5]
• A crushing project and two clearing projects had been initiated by the time the 2006–07 Saskatchewan Mid-Year Report was released. They were expected to be completed by the end of 2006.^[6]
• By May 2006, work began on improving Highway 956 as a joint project by the Alberta and Saskatchewan governments to connect La Loche and Fort McMurray.^[7]

See also

• Roads in Saskatchewan
• Transportation in Saskatchewan

Notes and References

1. MapArt. MapArt. 2007 . Saskatchewan Road Atlas . 1:540,000 . Oshawa, ON . Peter Heiler Ltd . 4 . 1-55368-020-0 . 2007 .
2. Web site: Winter Roads . Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo . Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo . 29 July 2018 . March 2018.
3. Web site: History of La Loche (Garson Lake Road). 2012-10-18 .
4. Web site: PROVINCIAL BUDGET ADDRESSES NORTHERN PRIORITIES - Government of Saskatchewan . March 29, 1999 . 2007-07-06 .
5. Web site: NEW ROAD WILL LINK NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN TO ATHABASCA OIL SANDS - Government of Saskatchewan . September 15, 2006 . 2007-07-06 .
6. Web site: Saskatchewan Province of · 18-K · For 3/31/06 · EX-99.F . March 31, 2006 . 2007-07-06 .
7. Web site: 2006 CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS BUILD ROADS TO PROSPERITY - Government of Saskatchewan . May 4, 2006 . 2007-07-06 .