Saskatchewan Highway 956

Infobox road
province=
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highway_name=Highway 956
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type=
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alternate_name=Garson Lake Road
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length_first=km
length_km=44
length_mi=27
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established=
decommissioned=
direction_a=West
starting_terminus=Winter road ending at Alberta border, near Garson Lake
beltway_city=
junction=
direction_b=East
ending_terminus=Hwy 155
counties=
rural_municipalities=Northern Administration District
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system=Saskatchewan provincial highways|previous_type=
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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. [cite book
last =
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title = Saskatchewan Road Atlas 2007
publisher =MapArt Publishing
date =2007
location =
pages =4
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = 1-55368-020-0]

Highway 956 is meant to connect the community of La Loche to Fort McMurray, Alberta. Beyond the Alberta border, the same route continues as a 65-km winter road going east until Alberta Highway 881, about 25 km south of Anzac, Alberta and about 75 km south of Fort McMurray. This winter road is expected to be upgraded to an all-season road by 2009.

History

*In 1999, as part of the Saskatchewan provincial budget, a project was begun to gravel 30 km of Highway 956. [cite web
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title = PROVINCIAL BUDGET ADDRESSES NORTHERN PRIORITIES - Government of Saskatchewan
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date = March 29, 1999
url =http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=f289a716-9d7a-4d96-97f6-feebbf3a1ab8
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-07-06 ]
*In September of 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
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title = NEW ROAD WILL LINK NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN TO ATHABASCA OIL SANDS - Government of Saskatchewan
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date = September 15, 2006
url =http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=e17934d4-e783-4e37-9adf-dcedf9fa090f
format =
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accessdate = 2007-07-06 ]
*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. [cite web
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title = Saskatchewan Province of · 18-K · For 3/31/06 · EX-99.F
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date = March 31, 2006
url =http://www.secinfo.com/d66aw.v5.9.htm
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accessdate = 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
last =
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authorlink =
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title = 2006 CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS BUILD ROADS TO PROSPERITY - Government of Saskatchewan
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date = May 4, 2006
url =http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=c9a4d7fa-2fb7-4be8-9503-b14de2113c43
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-07-06 ]

References