Saskatchewan Highway 956

Highway 956
Garson Lake Road
Route information
Length:	44 km (27 mi)
Existed:	1999 – present
Major junctions
West end:	Winter road ending at Alberta border, near Garson Lake
East end:	Hwy 155
Location
Rural municipalities:	Northern Administration District
Highway system
Provincial highways in Saskatchewan ← Hwy 955 Hwy 962 →

Highway 956, also known as the Garson Lake Road, is a highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from the Alberta border until Highway 155. The highway is 44 km (27 mi.) long.^[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 a 65-km winter road to Alberta Highway 881, about 25 km south of Anzac, Alberta and about 75 km south of Fort McMurray.

History

• Construction began in 1986 and completed in 1999.^[2]
• In 1999, as part of the Saskatchewan provincial budget, a project was begun to gravel 30 km of Highway 956.^[3]
• 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.^[4]
• A crushing project and two clearing projects had been initiated by the time the 2006-2007 Saskatchewan Mid-Year Report was released. They were expected to be completed by the end of 2006.^[5]
• 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.^[6]

Highway 956 road bridge over the La Loche River

References

1. Saskatchewan Road Atlas 2007. MapArt Publishing. 2007. p. 4. ISBN 1-55368-020-0.
2. "History of La Loche (Garson Lake Road)". Retrieved 2012-10-18.
3. "PROVINCIAL BUDGET ADDRESSES NORTHERN PRIORITIES - Government of Saskatchewan". March 29, 1999. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
4. "NEW ROAD WILL LINK NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN TO ATHABASCA OIL SANDS - Government of Saskatchewan". September 15, 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
5. "Saskatchewan Province of · 18-K · For 3/31/06 · EX-99.F". March 31, 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
6. "2006 CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS BUILD ROADS TO PROSPERITY - Government of Saskatchewan". May 4, 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-06.

External links

• History of La Loche--The Garson Lake Road