Saskatchewan Highway 956
{{Short description|Provincial highway in Saskatchewan, Canada}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=March 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox road
|province=SK
|type=Hwy
|route=956
|alternate_name=Garson Lake Road
|map=
|image=Garson Lake Road Bridge at the La Loche River..JPG
|photo_notes=Highway 956 road bridge over the La Loche River
|photo_width=250
|length_km=44
|length_round=
|length_ref=
|established=1999
|direction_a=West
|terminus_a=Alberta border near Garson Lake; La Loche winter trail continues west (future {{jct|province=AB|Hwy|956|noshield=yes}})
|junction=
|direction_b=East
|terminus_b={{jct|province=SK|Hwy|155}} near La Loche
|rural_municipalities=Northern Saskatchewan Administration District
|cities=
|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 {{convert|44|km}}.{{cite map|author = MapArt|author-link = MapArt|year = 2007 |title = Saskatchewan Road Atlas |scale = 1:540,000 |location = Oshawa, ON |publisher = Peter Heiler Ltd |page = 4 |isbn = 1-55368-020-0 |edition = 2007 }}
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{{cite web |title=Winter Roads |url=http://www.rmwb.ca/Municipal-Government/municipal_departments/Public-Operations/Roads/Winter-Roads.htm |website=Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo |publisher=Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo |access-date=29 July 2018 |date=March 2018}} winter road to Alberta Highway 881, about {{convert|25|km}} south of Anzac, Alberta and about {{convert|75|km}} south of Fort McMurray.
History
- Construction began in 1986 and completed in 1999.{{cite web
| title =History of La Loche (Garson Lake Road)
| url =https://sites.google.com/site/portagelaloche/history/garson-lake-road
| access-date =2012-10-18 }}
- In 1999, as part of the Saskatchewan provincial budget, a project was begun to gravel {{convert|30|km}} of Highway 956.{{cite web
| title = PROVINCIAL BUDGET ADDRESSES NORTHERN PRIORITIES - Government of Saskatchewan
| date = March 29, 1999
| url =http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=f289a716-9d7a-4d96-97f6-feebbf3a1ab8
| access-date = 2007-07-06 }}
- 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.{{cite web
| title = NEW ROAD WILL LINK NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN TO ATHABASCA OIL SANDS - Government of Saskatchewan
| date = September 15, 2006
| url =http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=e17934d4-e783-4e37-9adf-dcedf9fa090f
| access-date = 2007-07-06 }}
- 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.{{cite web
| title = Saskatchewan Province of · 18-K · For 3/31/06 · EX-99.F
| date = March 31, 2006
| url =http://www.secinfo.com/d66aw.v5.9.htm
| access-date = 2007-07-06 }}
- 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.{{cite web
| title = 2006 CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS BUILD ROADS TO PROSPERITY - Government of Saskatchewan
| date = May 4, 2006
| url =http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=c9a4d7fa-2fb7-4be8-9503-b14de2113c43
| access-date = 2007-07-06 }}
- By 2008, 44 of 53 kilometres (27 / 33 mi) of Garson Lake Road were completed.{{cite web |title=Garson Lake Road Reaches Milestone Thanks To More Than $9 Million Project |url=https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2024/july/12/garson-lake-road-reaches-milestone-thanks-to-more-than-$9-million-project |website=News and Media |publisher=Government of Saskatchewan |access-date=March 23, 2025 |language=en |date=July 12, 2024}}
- August 2023, construction began on the final {{convert|9.8|km}} to the Alberta border.