Highway 956
Garson Lake Road
Route information
Maintained by Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure
Length	44 km (27 mi)
Existed	1999–present
Major junctions
West end	Alberta border, near Garson Lake Winter road continues west
East end	Hwy 155 near La Loche
Location
Country	Canada
Province	Saskatchewan
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 provincial highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from the Alberta border until Highway 155. It is about 44 kilometres (27 mi).^[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 the 65-km La Loche Winter Trail^[2] winter road to Alberta Highway 881, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of Anzac, Alberta and about 75 kilometres (47 mi) south of Fort McMurray.

History

• Construction began in 1986 and completed in 1999.^[3]
• In 1999, as part of the Saskatchewan provincial budget, a project was begun to gravel 30 kilometres (19 mi) of Highway 956.^[4]
• 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.^[5]
• 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.^[6]
• 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.^[7]