 Highway 956 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Loche Connector La Loche Winter Trail | ||||
 Alignment of the La Loche Winter Trail in Alberta | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors | ||||
| Length | 65 km (40 mi) | |||
| Status | Proposed | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end |  Highway 881 south ofAnzac | |||
| East end |  Highway 956 at theSaskatchewan border | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | Canada | |||
| Province | Alberta | |||
| Specialized and rural municipalities | RM of Wood Buffalo | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
Highway 956, also known as theLa Loche Connector,[1] is a proposed highway innorthern Alberta, Canada that will connect theFort McMurray region toLa Loche,Saskatchewan.[2][3] A previous iteration of Highway 956 was a north–south highway incentral Alberta, that existed between 1974 andc. 1985 that now forms the northern portion ofHighway 56.
Highway 956 is a proposed 65-kilometre (40 mi) all-weather road that will extend fromHighway 881, 25 kilometres (16 mi) south ofAnzac and 75 kilometres (47 mi) south of Fort McMurray, to the Saskatchewan border where will connect withSaskatchewan Highway 956 and continue to La Loche. The route is currently awinter road known as theLa Loche Winter Trail and maintained by theRegional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.[4] Highway 956 is the in the planning phase for 2025.[2][5] The Government of Alberta's proposed 2025 budget will allocate $7 million for construction if approved.[1] Unlike other 900-series highways in Alberta, Highway 956 is not related to Highway 56, rather getting its number from its Saskatchewan counterpart.
In September 2005, to celebrate the centennials of Saskatchewan and Alberta, Saskatchewan PremierLorne Calvert and Alberta PremierRalph Klein announced a project costing $45 million to connect La Loche and Fort McMurray with an all-season road.[6] Saskatchewan subsequently completed 44 of 53 kilometres (27 / 33 mi) in 2008.[7] In 2022, Saskatchewan PremierScott Moe asked Alberta PremierJason Kenney to commit to finishing the project,[3] and construction of the final 9.8 kilometres (6.1 mi) in Saskatchewan began in August 2023.[7] In July 2024, Alberta announced its commitment to the project with Alberta Transportation MinisterDevin Dreeshen calling it "a priority project for the province."[3] Funding in the amount of $7 million towards construction of the Alberta portion of the road was tentatively announced in early 2025.[1]
.svg) Highway 956 | |
|---|---|
| Location | County of Stettler No. 6,Camrose County |
| Length | 75 km (47 mi) |
| Existed | 1973–1985 |
Secondary Road 956 (orSecondary Highway 956) was the previous designation applied to a 75-kilometre (47 mi) road betweenStettler andHighway 13 east ofCamrose. Established in 1974 in conjunction with the secondary road system, it was used as a temporary designation for the northern extension ofHighway 56. The 30-kilometre (19 mi) section between Stettler andHighway 53 west ofDonalda became part of Highway 56 inc. 1977,[8] while the remaining 45-kilometre (28 mi) section became part of Highway 56 inc. 1985.[9]
$7 million for the La Loche Connector road – extending Highway 956 from La Loche, Saskatchewan to Fort McMurray
