| Agency Name: | Ministry of Highways |
| Type: | Organization |
| Parent Agency: | Government of Saskatchewan |
| Minister1 Name: | Fred Bradshaw |
| Formed: | 1917 |
| Employees: | 1,476 |
The Ministry of Highways is divided into the Operations, Policy and Programs, and Corporate Services Divisions and the Communications Branch. The ministry is the employer of over 1,476 employees diversified amongst 105 communities in Saskatchewan.[1] The current Minister of Highways and Infrastructure is Jeremy Cockrill.[1]
The Operation Division has the responsibility of maintaining 9249km (5,747miles) of asphalt concrete pavements, 4929km (3,063miles) of granular pavements, 6102km (3,792miles) of thin membrane surface (TMS) highways, 5621km (3,493miles) of gravel highways, 171km (106miles) of ice roads, 805km (500miles) bridges, 453km (281miles) large culverts, 12 ferries, one barge and 17 northern airports. Operational maintenance includes surface repair activities like crack filling, sealing, and patching; snow and ice control; pavement marking; signing; and ferry operations. Along with engineering, construction and design of the provincial road network, the operations division provides regulations, inspections and advice to the rural municipalities (R.M.) for the municipal road network.[1]
All ferries in Saskatchewan are operated by the Government of Saskatchewan and, with the exception of the Wollaston Barge Ferry, are toll free. All are seasonal, with ferries generally operating from mid-April to mid-November, depending on ice conditions. The ferries operated include:[2]
During the term of office for Eiling Kramer, 1972–1980, the Provincial Highway received extensive funding and paving for the entire system neared completion.[3] Saskatchewan Highway 11 was restructured under the term of office of David Boldt, Minister 1966-1971.[4] John T. Douglas, during his term of office 1944-1960 established the Saskatchewan Transportation Company as a Crown Corporation of the government.[5] Alan Carl Stewart, Minister of Highways 1929-1934, allocated $20 million for highway construction in Saskatchewan.[6] George Spence, Minister of Highways 1927-1929, was responsible for the initiation of numbering Saskatchewan highways.[7]
The first Board of Highways Commissioners was appointed by the provincial government in 1912, and the first Department of Highways was established in 1917.[8] On 1 September 1934, the name was changed from the Department of Highways to the Department of Highways and Transportation. Effective 21 November 2007 the Department of Highways and Transportation became the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure.[9]
The Policy and Programs Division works with other legislative and regulatory agencies to ensure an optimal transportation network is provided via road, rail, air, and marine.[1]
Corporate Services Division is responsible for the budgeting, finances, and forecasting for the needs of the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure.[1]
The Communications Branch of the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure maintains the news releases, safety awareness and education programs.[1]
The 14 detachments operate six border and seven interior weigh stations, three 24-hour self-weigh decks and one Mobile Vehicle Inspection Station. The head office regulates their operations in compliance with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and the Canadian Council Motor Transport Administrators.[10] They are a member of the Saskatchewan Protection and Response Team (PRT) responsible for reducing rural crime throughout the province.
Area Transportation Planning (ATP) Support Program analyzes transportation in regional areas to provide funding for regional needs.[1] Committees which comprise representatives from the local rural and urban municipalities, Regional Economic Development Authorities (REDA), Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, and Highways and Infrastructure analyze local needs and the effects of the increased use of grain via truck transportation and the decreased use of rail transport is having on road infrastructure.[11] There are currently 9 committees which comprise the majority of Saskatchewan except for an area near La Ronge and Southend.
The Strategic Partnership Program analyzes low traffic volume thin membrane surface highways working with rural municipalities and First Nation agencies to provide an effective and operational traffic flow between thin membrane surface highways and the provincial network.[1]
See also: List of airports in Saskatchewan. Community Airport Partnership (CAP) provides a mandate to the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure to maintain and assist southern airport infrastructure.[12]
Groups or individuals may sponsor a 3km (02miles) stretch of highway to pick up litter and maintain highway appearances.[13]
| Term | Minister | Title | Administration | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 January 2020 – Present | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Scott Moe | |||
| 20 November 2020 – 6 January 2020 | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Scott Moe | |||
| 21 November 2007 | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Brad Wall | |||
| 12 October 2001 – 21 November 2007 | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Lorne Calvert | |||
| 8 February 2001 – 12 October 2001 | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Lorne Calvert | [14] | ||
| 30 September 1999 – 8 February 2001 | Highways and Transportation Minister | [15] | |||
| 27 June 1997 – 30 September 1999 | Honourable Judy Llewellyn Bradley | Highways and Transportation Minister | [16] | ||
| 29 April 1997 – 27 June 1997 | Honourable Clay J. Serby | Highways and Transportation Minister | |||
| 20 September 1993 – 25 April 1997 | Honourable Andrew (Andy) L.J. Renaud | Highways and Transportation Minister | |||
| 4 June 1993 – 20 September 1993 | Honourable Darrel Cunningham | Highways and Transportation Minister | |||
| 29 September 1992 – 4 June 1993 | Highways and Transportation Minister | ||||
| 1 November 1991 – 29 September 1992 | Highways and Transportation Minister | ||||
| 3 October 1989 – 1 November 1991 | Honourable Sherwin Petersen | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Grant Devine | ||
| 16 December 1985 – 3 October 1989 | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Grant Devine | |||
| 4 December 1985 – 16 December 1985 | Honourable Donald Grant Devine | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Grant Devine | ||
| 8 May 1982 – 4 December 1985 | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Grant Devine | |||
| 16 December 1980 – 8 May 1982 | Honourable Robert Gavin Long | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Allan Blakeney | ||
| 12 May 1972 – 16 December 1980 | Honourable Eiling Kramer | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Allan Blakeney | ||
| 30 June 1971 – 12 May 1972 | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Allan Blakeney | |||
| 18 October 1966 – 30 June 1971 | Honourable David Boldt | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Ross Thatcher | ||
| 22 May 1964 – 18 October 1966 | Honourable Gordon Burton Grant | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Ross Thatcher | ||
| 7 November 1961 – 22 May 1964 | Honourable Clarence George Willis | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Woodrow Stanley Lloyd | [17] | |
| 1 August 1960 – 7 November 1961 | Honourable Clarence George Willis | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Tommy Douglas | ||
| 10 July 1944 – 1 August 1960 | Highways and Transportation Minister | [18] | |||
| 1 December 1938 – 10 July 1944 | Honourable Arthur Thomas Procter | Highways and Transportation Minister | under William John Patterson | ||
| 3 November 1938 – 1 December 1938 | Honourable William Franklin Kerr | Highways and Transportation Minister | under William John Patterson | ||
| 1 November 1935 – 3 November 1938 | Highways and Transportation Minister | under William John Patterson | |||
| 1 September 1934 – 1 November 1935 | Honourable Charles Morton Dunn | Highways and Transportation Minister | under James Garfield Gardiner | ||
| 19 July 1934 – 1 September 1934 | Honourable Charles Morton Dunn | Minister of Highways | under James Garfield Gardiner | ||
| 9 September 1929 – 19 July 1934 | Honourable Alan Carl Stewart | Minister of Highways | under James T.M. Anderson | ||
| 8 December 1927 – 9 September 1929 | Minister of Highways | under James Garfield Gardiner | |||
| 10 November 1926 – 8 December 1927 | Honourable William John Patterson | Minister of Highways | |||
| 5 April 1922 – 10 November 1926 | Honourable James Garfield Gardiner | Minister of Highways | |||
| 14 June 1921 – 5 April 1922 | Honourable Charles McGill Hamilton | Minister of Highways | under William Melville Martin | ||
| 20 October 1917 – 14 June 1921 | Honourable Samuel John Latta | Minister of Highways | under William Melville Martin | ||
| 2 April 1917 – 20 October 1917 | Honourable James Alexander Calder | Minister of Highways | under William Melville Martin | ||
| 1916 to 1922 | None | No Department est. | under William Melville Martin | ||
| 1905–1916 | Minister of Railways, Telephones and Highways | under Thomas Walter Scott | [19] |
| Type | Length | Year | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Railway track: | 95137km (59,115miles) | 2007 | [20] | |
| Highways, roads and streets: | 198239km (123,180miles) | 2007 | ||
| Paved, two-lane: | 11822km (7,346miles) | 2007 | ||
| Paved, four-lane, divided: | 2356km (1,464miles) | 2007 | ||
| Oil treatments: | 6102km (3,792miles) | 2007 | ||
| Gravel and other: | 5752km (3,574miles) | 2007 | ||
| Total Provincial Highways: | 26032km (16,176miles) | 2007 | ||
| Asphalt concrete pavements: | 9249km (5,747miles) | 2007 | ||
| Granular pavements: | 4929km (3,063miles) | 2007 | ||
| Thin membrane surface: | 6102km (3,792miles) | 2007 | ||
| Gravel highways: | 5621km (3,493miles) | 2007 | ||
| Ice roads: | 171km (106miles) | 2007 | ||
| Large culverts: | 453km (281miles) | 2007 | ||
| Bridges: | 805km (500miles) | 2007 | ||
| Ferries: | 12 | 2007 | ||
| Northern Airports: | 17 | 2007 | ||
| Portland Cement Concrete: | 0 | 1948-49 | [21] | |
| Bituminous Pavements: | 0 | 1948-49 | ||
| Bituminous Surface: | 498miles | 1948-49 | ||
| Gravel/Crushed Stone: | 12647miles | 1948-49 | ||
| Other Surfaces: | 62miles | 1948-49 | ||
| Total Surfaced Road: | 13207miles | 1948-49 | ||
| Improved Earth: | 77779miles | 1948-49 | ||
| Other Earth Roads: | 121992miles | 1948-49 | ||
| Total Non Surfaced Road: | 199771miles | 1948-49 | ||
| Road Total: | 212978miles | 1948-49 |