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Saskatchewan Highway 956

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Highway 956 marker
Highway 956
Garson Lake Road
Garson Lake Road Bridge at the La Loche River..JPG
Highway 956 road bridge over the La Loche River
Route information
Maintained by Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure
Length44 km (27 mi)
Existed1999–present
Major junctions
West endAlberta border, near Garson Lake
Winter road continues west
East end Highway 155 near La Loche
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceSaskatchewan
Rural municipalitiesNorthern Saskatchewan Administration District
Highway system
Highway 955 Highway 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 44 kilometres (27 mi).[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 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of Anzac, Alberta and about 75 kilometres (47 mi) south of Fort McMurray.

History

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  • Construction began in 1986 and completed in 1999.[3]
  • In 1999, as part of the Saskatchewan provincial budget, a project was begun to gravel 30 kilometres (19 mi) 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

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References

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