.svg)  Highway 39 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CanAm Highway (segment) | ||||
 Highway 39 highlighted in red | ||||
 A sunrise on Highway 39 near North Portal | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained byMinistry of Highways and Infrastructure &Transport Canada | ||||
| Length | 263.5 km[1] (163.7 mi) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |  Canada-US border (US 52) atNorth Portal | |||
| Major intersections |
| |||
| North end |   Highway 1 (TCH) /Highway 301 nearMoose Jaw | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | Canada | |||
| Province | Saskatchewan | |||
| Rural municipalities | Coalfields No. 4,Estevan No. 5,Benson No. 35,Cymri No. 36,Weyburn No. 67,Scott No. 98,Caledonia No. 99,Bratt's Lake No. 129,Redburn No. 130,Pense No. 160,Moose Jaw No. 161 | |||
| Major cities | Estevan, Weyburn | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
Highway 39 is aprovincial highway in the southern portion of theCanadian province ofSaskatchewan. It runs fromNorth Portal at theCanada–United States border north-west toMoose Jaw atHighway 1.[2] This is a primary Saskatchewan highway maintained by the provincial and federal governments[3] that provides a major trucking and tourism route betweenU.S. Route 52 and theTrans-Canada Highway.[4]
Highway 39 is one of Canada's busiest highways, facilitating transport for$6 billion in trade goods via approximately 100,000 trucks over the year.[5] About 71.3 kilometres (44.3 mi) of the highway betweenWeyburn andCorinne is part of theCanAm Highway[6] route. Other Saskatchewan highways on the CanAm route include35,6,3, and2.[7][8] Highway 39 isdivided, or twinned, in two areas — east of Estevan for 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the junction withHighway 18[9] and north-west of Weyburn for 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi). The junction of Highway 39 with theTrans–Canada divided four-lane highway is done via apartial cloverleaf interchange.
Over the last number of years, multiple projects have been completed to improve traffic flow and to make the highway safer.[10] Highway 39 has been dubbed "Heaven's Flowered Highway" due to the number of deaths on the highway and the flowers andcrosses lining it to honour the victims. Groups have been calling for the corridor of Highways 39 and 6 from the U.S. border to Regina to be twinned to improve safety, trade, and traffic flow.[11][12]
Highway 39 begins at thePortal–North Portal Border Crossing, which has Saskatchewan's onlyduty-free shop.[13] From there, the highway heads north-west towards theSouris River valley. On the south side of the valley, and adjacent to the highway, is the Short Creek Cairn. Thecairn commemorates aNorth-West Mounted Police camp from the 1874 GreatMarch West. The actual camp was located nearby at the mouth of Short Creek on the Souris River near Roche Percee. From the cairn, Highway 39 descends into the valley, which is where the village ofRoche Percee andRoche Percee Recreation Site[14] are situated.[15] Roche Percee is named after a geophysical rock formation in the area.[16] Just east of Roche Percee aretwo arches created by limestone rocks upon which historic animals, and initials are carved. The localIndigenous people found this site to be a power centre. As the highway crosses the river and climbs up and out of the Souris River valley, it passes by two large dragline surface coal mines. With an abundance of coal, the first operational mine opened in 1891. The coal was shipped downstream by barge toWinnipeg until theCPR'sSoo Line came through in 1893. Underground mines began being replaced in the 1930s and, by the 1950s, all underground mining had been replaced by dragline surface mines.[17]
From the coal mines, Highway 39 opens up into adivided highway, is joined by, and has a 10-kilometre (6.2 mi)concurrency with,Highway 18, and heads west towards the city ofEstevan.[18] At the eastern outskirts of Estevan, Highway 39 diverges north and bypasses the city while Highway 39A continues through it. The 13-kilometre (8.1 mi) Estevan Bypass opened in November 2015.[19]
Estevan is the eighth largest city in Saskatchewan and is known as "The Energy City" as there is an abundance of coal, oil, and natural gas resources near the city. Also nearby isRafferty Dam,Boundary Dam Power Station, andShand Power Station.[20] Boundary Dam Power Station is the location of the Boundary Dam Carbon Capture Project.[21] In June 2024, Saskatchewan's premierScott Moe announced thatsmall modular reactors were coming to Saskatchewan and "that the government was officially looking at just the Estevan area for the first reactor in Saskatchewan."[22]
As the Highway 39 / Estevan Bypass skirts around the northern limits of Estevan, it is intersected byHighway 47. Highway 47 heads north toStoughton and south through Estevan (intersecting with Highway 39A) to theNoonan–Estevan Border Crossing. Highway 39 is rejoined by Highway 39A north-west of Estevan where continues in a north-westerly direction past aweigh station[23] and heads towards the city ofWeyburn. Along the way, the highway provides access to many small communities, such asHitchcock,Macoun,[24]Midale,Halbrite,[25] andRalph. This section of highway parallels the Souris River and its reservoirs from Estevan to Weyburn and provides access to two regional parks:Mainprize Regional Park[26] andNickle Lake Regional Park.[27]
Weyburn, "The Opportunity City", has also been dubbed theSoo Line City due its connection withChicago on the Soo Line of theCanadian Pacific Railway (CPR).[28] Weyburn is at thecrossroads of three major highways —35, 39, and13[29][30] and is near the upper delta of the 760-kilometre (470 mi) long Souris River. The Souris River continues south-east through North Dakota eventually meeting theAssiniboine River in Manitoba.[28] In the 19th century, this area was known as an extension of theGreater Yellow Grass Marsh. "Extensive flood control programs have created reservoirs, parks and waterfowl centres along the Souris River."[29][31] Notable points of interest in Weyburn accessible from Highway 39 include the Soo Line Historical Museum,[32][33]Tommy Douglas statue, Weyburn Heritage Village,[34] Water Tower,[35] River Park Campground,[36] and the site of the formerWeyburn Mental Hospital. In the spring of 2025, the construction of aroundabout was begun at the intersection of 39 and 13. Completed in the fall of 2025, it cost $29 million and included a further 5.8 kilometres (3.6 mi) oftwinning along Highway 39.[37][38] The twinning was completed a full year ahead of schedule.[39]
From Weyburn, Highway 39 begins theCanAm section as it continues in a north-westerly direction towardsCorinne andHighway 6, at which point it has a 3.7-kilometre (2.3 mi)concurrency with 6. Communities along the stretch of highway from Weyburn to Corinne includeMcTaggart,Yellow Grass,Lang, andMilestone. At Corinne, the CanAm Highway diverges from Highway 39 and follows Highway 6 toRegina. A two-year, $57 million twinning project from the concurrency of Highways 6 and 39 to Regina was completed in 2025. The project is split into two sections — the twinning of a 7.1-kilometre (4.4 mi) segment beginning at the Highway 39 and Highway 6 concurrency south-east of Corinne to a point north of Corinne on Highway 6 and a 7.8-kilometre (4.8 mi) twinning of Highway 6 fromHighway 306 north to theRegina Bypass.[40]
After Corinne, Highway 39 continues north-west for the final leg of its route to the Trans-Canada Highway. This section provides access to the communities ofWilcox,Rouleau,Drinkwater, andPasqua. Rouleau was the host town for the popular Canadian sitcom,Corner Gas, which aired from 2004 to 2009. The show was set in the fictional town ofDog River, Saskatchewan.[41] West of the northern terminus along theTrans-Canada Highway is the city ofMoose Jaw.
The 71.7-kilometre (44.6 mi) segment between Weyburn andCorinne is designated as a portion of theCanAm Highway. Near Corinne, Highway 39 is concurrent withHighway 6, at Corinne, the CanAm Highway continues north on Highway 6. South of Weyburn, the CanAm Highway crosses theCanada–United States border viaHighway 35."The projects on Highways 39 and 6 will help to improve traffic flow through these Canada/U.S. ports. 'Highways 6 and 39 are very important to Saskatchewan — serving as tourism links and major north–south trade corridors to the U.S.,' formerNDP Highways and Transportation MinisterMaynard Sonntag had said in 2004."[42]
Saskatchewan's Highway 39 traverses a course on a diagonal from the south–east at the U.S. border to north–west at the Trans-Canada Highway east of Moose Jaw. Originally, the road followed the early surveyedroad allowances and the grade of the CPR orSoo Line between the United States border and east of Moose Jaw. Travel along Highway 39 before the 1940s would have been travelling on thesquare following the township road allowances, barbed wire fencing, and rail lines. As the surveyed township roads were the easiest to travel, the first highway was designed on 90 degree right angle corners as the distance traversed the prairie along range roads and township roads.[43][44]
By 1940, Highway 39 has been straightened out for most of its route and no longer follows the road allowances "on the square".[45] As late as 1955 though, there were still right angle segment of the highway near Corinne as well as south of Estevan toNorth Portal. At this point, the highway still ran throughRoche Percee while now it bypasses the village to the east.[46]
In 1947 and 1948, the highway was paved from North Portal to its junction with Highway 6 at Corinne.[47] However, the paved surface fell into disrepair within a few years; aLeader-Post reporter wrote in 1953 that "practically the entire road, from North Portal through to Corinne is just a mass of large gaping potholes, ruts, and cracks, and in some places the hard surface is gone completely."[47] Saskatchewan Motor Transport association director A.R. Mang blamed the poor condition of the road on a failure to place a suitable "base course", a layer of gravel and clay, between the pavement and the road's earthen base.[48] A 1955 map shows that a segment between Estevan andLang had reverted to gravel[46] and a 1956 highway map shows the entire segment between Weyburn and Estevan as a gravel highway.[49] These maps also show the segment between Corinne and the junction with theTrans-Canada Highway as gravel. Repairs were carried out at considerable expense,[50] but the situation required temporary bans on heavy traffic[51] and the rerouting of traffic along nearby roads.[47][50]
In 2008, atrade group called theSoo Line Corridor Association advocated twinning much of Highway 39 and part of Highway 6 to create a continuous twinned corridor stretching from Regina to North Portal to boost Saskatchewan's trade with the United States.[52] Former premierLorne Calvert had expressed interest in the proposal.[53] In response to a fatality in 2009, another group —Time to Twin Committee — was formed to advocate for the twinning. In the decade preceding 2016, an average of three people a year had died on Highway 39. One such fatality in 2012 in a highway construction zone near Midale — that of a pregnantflagger on her first day on the job[54] — swiftly brought legislative changes for drivers in construction zones.[55]
First announced in 2008, the first phase of twinning was completed in 2017 east of Estevan.[56][57] The second was started in 2023 near Corinne.
Over the years, Highway 39 has undergone several resurfacing and improvement projects. Some of those projects include:
From south to north:
| Rural municipality | Location | km[1] | mi | Destinations | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coalfields No. 4 | North Portal | 0.0 | 0.0 |  US 52 east –Minot | Continuation intoNorth Dakota | |||
| Canada–United States border atPortal–North Portal Border Crossing | ||||||||
| 1.1 | 0.68 |   Highway 604 north | ||||||
| | 10.9 | 6.8 |  Highway 703 west | |||||
| | 20.2 | 12.6 | CrossesSouris River | |||||
| Estevan No. 5 | | 23.8 | 14.8 | Roche Percee Access Road | ||||
| | 27.0 | 16.8 |  Highway 18 east –Bienfait,Oxbow | South end of Highway 18 concurrency | ||||
| Estevan | 33.2 | 20.6 |  Highway 18 west / Highway 39A north – City Centre,Torquay | Highway 39 follows Estevan Bypass; north end of Highway 18 concurrency | ||||
| 41.1 | 25.5 |  Highway 47 (Souris Avenue) – City Centre,U.S. border,Stoughton | ||||||
| 46.2 | 28.7 | Highway 39A south – City Centre | West end of Estevan Bypass | |||||
| Benson No. 35 | No major junctions | |||||||
| Cymri No. 36 | Midale | 80.1 | 49.8 |  Highway 702 east | ||||
| 80.8 | 50.2 |  Highway 606 –Torquay,Fillmore | ||||||
| Halbrite | 95.0 | 59.0 |  Highway 705 | |||||
| City ofWeyburn | 122.0 | 75.8 | 16th Street | |||||
| 123.5 | 76.7 | Crosses Souris River | ||||||
| 124.0 | 77.1 |   Highway 35 /CanAm Highway (Government Road) –Tribune,U.S. border,Francis | CanAm Highway south end (continues along Highway 35 south) | |||||
| 126.5 | 78.6 |  Highway 13 (Red Coat Trail) –Assiniboia,Carlyle | ||||||
| Weyburn No. 67 | McTaggart | 137.7 | 85.6 | |||||
| Scott No. 98 | Yellow Grass | 150.7 | 93.6 |  Highway 621 north –Lewvan | South end of Highway 621 concurrency | |||
| | 152.7 | 94.9 | Highway 621 south | North end of Highway 621 concurrency | ||||
| Lang | 170.7 | 106.1 | ||||||
| Caledonia No. 99 | Milestone | 184.1 | 114.4 |  Highway 710 | ||||
| | 191.5 | 119.0 |  Highway 6 south –Regway,U.S. border | South end of Highway 6 concurrency | ||||
| Bratt's Lake No. 129 | Corinne | 194.4 | 120.8 |  Highway 334 west –Avonlea | ||||
| | 195.2 | 121.3 | Highway 6 north /CanAm Highway –Regina | CanAm Highway north end; north end of Highway 6 concurrency | ||||
| Redburn No. 130 | Wilcox | 204.0 | 126.8 | |||||
| Rouleau | 221.4 | 137.6 |  Highway 714 east | Home ofCorner Gas atDog River | ||||
| | 225.8 | 140.3 |  Highway 623 south –Truax | South end of Highway 623 concurrency | ||||
| | 227.6 | 141.4 | Highway 623 north –Pense,Lumsden | North end of Highway 623 concurrency | ||||
| Drinkwater | 240.8 | 149.6 | ||||||
| Pense No. 160 | | 250.6 | 155.7 |  Highway 339 south –Briercrest Highway 642 north –Belle Plaine | ||||
| Moose Jaw No. 161 | | 263.5 | 163.7 | Highway 1 (TCH) –Moose Jaw,Swift Current,ReginaHighway 301 north –Buffalo Pound Provincial Park | Interchange; Highway 1 exit 308; through traffic follows Highway 301 | |||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| ||||||||
.svg) Highway 39A | |
|---|---|
| Location | Estevan |
| Length | 11 km[1] (6.8 mi) |
Highway 39A is a highway in Saskatchewan serving the city of Estevan. It runs from theHighway 18 / Highway 39concurrency east of Estevan to Highway 39, north-west of the city. It is the original configuration for Highway 39 through Estevan and was designated after the Estevan Bypass was opened in November 2015.[61]
The highway runs concurrently with Highway 18 from it southern terminus east of Estevan along 4th Street, to Souris Avenue where Highway 18 turns south and leaves the concurrency, becoming concurrent withHighway 47. It continues to 13th Avenue where Highway 47 turns north and Highway 39A continues north-west, leaving Estevan to its northern terminus with Highway 39. Highway 39A is about 11 kilometres (7 mi) long.[62]
| Rural municipality | Location | km[1] | mi | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estevan No. 5 | | 0.0 | 0.0 |  Highway 18 east / Highway 39 south –Bienfait,North Portal,U.S. border | Southern terminus; south end of Highway 18 concurrency |
| City ofEstevan | 5.1 | 3.2 | Highway 18 west /Highway 47 south (Souris Avenue) –Torquay,U.S. border | North end of Highway 18 concurrency; south end of Highway 47 concurrency | |
| 5.6 | 3.5 | Highway 47 north (13th Avenue) –Stoughton | North end of Highway 47 concurrency | ||
| Estevan No. 5 | | 11.2 | 7.0 | Highway 39 north –Weyburn,Regina | Northern terminus |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| |||||
| Preceded by |  CanAm HighwayHwy 39 | Succeeded by |
