Saskatchewan Highway 5

Highway 5
Route information
Maintained by Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure & Transport Canada
Length:	392.6 km[1] (244.0 mi)
Major junctions
West end:	Hwy 11 (Idylwyld Drive) in Saskatoon
	Hwy 16 (TCH) Hwy 671 Hwy 2 Hwy 670 Hwy 368 at Muenster Hwy 6 at Watson Hwy 640 west of Quill Lake Hwy 655 Hwy 38 Hwy 617 at Invermay Hwy 754 at Rama Hwy 651 Hwy 9 at Canora Hwy 637 at Veregin Hwy 8 at Kamsack Hwy 57 near Kamsack Hwy 357 / Hwy 369 at Togo
East end:	Manitoba border near Togo continues east as PR 363
Location
Rural municipalities:	Corman Park, Blucher, Colonsay, St. Peter, Lakeside, Lakeview, Sasman, Invermay, Good Lake, Cote
Major cities:	Saskatoon, Humboldt
Highway system
Provincial highways in Saskatchewan ← Hwy 4 Hwy 6 →

Highway 5 is a major highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It begins in downtown Saskatoon and runs eastward to the Manitoba border near Togo, where it becomes Provincial Road 363. The highway is approximately 393 kilometres (244 mi) long. Between the early 1900s (decade) and 1976, Provincial Highway 5 was a trans-provincial highway travelling approximately 630 kilometres (390 mi) in length. At this time it started at the Alberta border in Lloydminster and traveled east to the Manitoba border.

In the summer of 1970, the section of highway between Lloydminster and Saskatoon was designated to be a portion of the Yellowhead Highway. This section of highway maintained the Highway 5 designation until 1976, when it was redesignated as Highway 16 to maintain the same number through the four western provinces (Manitoba followed suit the following year, redesignating its section of the Yellowhead Highway from PTH 4 to PTH 16). This redesignation shortened the length of Highway 5 to its current length of 393 kilometres (244 mi).

Along the route are several heritage sites, an international bird watching area, saline lakes, as well as regional and provincial parks. Museums and historical markers commemorate the region's history along the highway.

Route description

Highway 5 begins near downtown Saskatoon at Idylwyld Drive North (Highway 11 and 12), as 23rd Street East. Saskatoon is the most populous city located in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River, with a metropolitan population of 233,923.^[2] The highway starting terminus is the intersection of the Saskatoon Railway Station a national historic site classified as a Designated Heritage Railway Station.^[3][4] The Fairbanks Morse Warehouse is a municipal heritage property along 23rd St. E.^[5] The highway turns north in downtown Saskatoon at the Saskatoon Transit terminal which will soon be home to a $4.2 million transit terminal on 23rd Street between Second and Third Avenues.^[6] Along 25th Street, there is an historic marker commemorating the King Edward School building the first home of Saskatoon's city hall,^[7] and the Saskatoon World War memorial marker. The Meewasin Valley Trail follows the South Saskatchewan River through Saskatoon which is visible when Highway 5 traverses the University Bridge.^[8] At the top of the bridge is the University of Saskatchewan's President's Residence which was constructed between 1910 and 1913.^[9] East of the residence are the Memorial Gates are a World War I memorial, the interment site of the Honourable Sir Frederick W. A. G. Haultain's ashes,^[10] the entrance to the Royal University Hospital and University of Saskatchewan.^[9] It becomes College Drive after crossing the river, and at km 4.4, the road diverges into a divided or twinned highway with 2 lanes traveling in either direction across a meridian.^[1] Continuing east it intersects the Circle Drive city bypass route (Highway 16) at an interchange that opened in 2006. After a signalized intersection with Central Avenue and an interchange with McKercher Drive, Highway 5 leaves Saskatoon's city limits at km 7, but the city is directly beside the highway until km 10, including a signalized intersection with the city's McOrmond Drive.

University Bridge access

According to the Atlas of Saskatchewan, the elevation around Saskatoon is between 500 to 600 metres (1,600 to 2,000 ft).^[11] Leaving Saskatoon, travel is through a moist mixed grassland ecoregion. Small Aspen groves surround sloughs which intersperse the glacial till landscape.^[11] The highway is paved between Saskatoon and Kamsack. Just outside the city limits, Highway 5 connects with Highway 41 at the site of a small commercial area that, as of 2007, included the Sundown Drive-In, one of Canada's last operational drive-in movie theatres.^[12] Highway 5 has been a divided highway through the College - Circle Dr. interchange remaining a divided highway until km 14.0. The remainder of the highway to the Manitoba border is an undivided highway.^[1] The communities of Strawberry Hills, Discovery Ridge and Settler's Ridge are just off km 18 on Highway 5. At km 21, Highway 5 intersects Highway 316.

Saskatoon downtown STC building

Patience Lake is located at km 24.3 and the Patience Lake potash mine is visible from Highway 5. "Patience Lake is a shallow, permanent, hypersaline lake east of Saskatoon in an area of extensive potash extraction.^[13] " The Patience Lake underground potash mine opened in 1975 was thereafter closed in 1987 due to extensive flooding. A new solution mine was reopened in 1988.^[14]

At km 41, it intersects Highway 671, near the town of St. Denis. At km 64, it intersects Highway 2, where it begins a 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) concurrency. Highway 5 continues east at km 70.

Highway 5 - Highway 41 intersection

The town of Peterson is at km 76 and Highway 670 is at km 87. The ecoregion changes to aspen parkland. Grasslands are resident on the upper slopes, and aspen groves on the lower areas. There tend to be more aspen groves in the aspen parkland as compared to the mixed grassland area.^[11] At km 109, the highway passes through the town of Dixon.

The city of Humboldt is at km 115. Highway 5 also connects with Highway 20 in Humboldt. Humboldt is Saskatchewan's newest city located 113 kilometres (70 mi) east of Saskatoon. Humboldt incorporated as a city in 2000. A new Humboldt tourist booth was opened in 1971 on the highway edge. Humboldt has many large murals depicting its German Catholic history located on building walls throughout the city. The Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery is located in a 1912 post office and customs office with its landmark tower clock which has been declared a national historic site.

Drive in Sundown Theatre

The Carlton Trail Regional Economic Development Authority (REDA) coordinates and instigates economy in an area of rural municipalities (RM) and towns in central Saskatchewan around Humboldt. The main industries of this area are agricultural, manufacturing, processing concerns as well as potash mining. A more recent industry to the area is tourism.^[15]

Situated 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Humboldt along Saskatchewan Highway 5 and two miles (3 km) south is the Kloppenburg Wildlife Refuge. North of the city is the Humboldt 18 hole grass green golf course on Highway 5.^[16] Original works by the painter, Count Berthold Von Imhoff, can be seen at churches located in Muenster and Humboldt.^[17] The establishment of St. Peter’s Colony and Abbacy, Muenster, Saskatchewan has been designated as a Canadian National Historic Event on June 8, 2007, by the Minister of the Environment.^[18]

Sk Hwy 5 junction with 16, 7, 11, 14

After Humboldt, Highway 5 passes through the town of Muenster at km 123 and intersects with Highway 368 at km 125.

Highway 667 is at km 135, and the town of St. Gregor is at km 136. It then passes through the town of Englefeld (km 147). The village of Englefeld has a 600 pounds (270 kg) hog which was built to celebrate the 25th Annual Hogfest celebration.^[19] The historic Wood Mountain - Fort Qu'Appelle Trail is marked with a point of interest marker. McNab Regional Park is located south of Watson featuring pool and golf course.^[20] Watson is located at the concurrency of Highway 5 and Highway 6, the CanAm Highway.^[21][22] At the intersection with Highway 6 is Watson (km 156). Watson (Vossen, NWT) is known as the Industrial Crossroads of Saskatchewan being the midpoint between Regina, Saskatchewan, and Saskatoon. Watson celebrated its first Santa Claus Day in 1922, and has erected a 25-foot (7.6 m)-high Santa Claus to commemorate this event.^[23][24][25]

Count Berthold Imhoff painting

Highway 5 then passes through Wimmer (km 165), and Quill Lake (km 175). The village of Quill Lake features a large statue of a Canada Goose located at the intersection of Highway 5 and Main Street.^[26] The Highway 5 - Highway 35 junction features a historical plaque which commemorates the Touchwood Hills Hudson's Bay Company fur trade post established in 1879. The Carlton Trail and telegraph line are also remembered at this site where only a portion of the trail and the post cellar depression remain.^[22]

The highway continues east meeting with Highway 640 (km 176), Clair (km 191), and Paswegin (km 199). It enters the town of Wadena and intersects with Highway 35 at km 210. Wadena Wildlife Wetlands and Wadena Museum and Nature Centre are features of Wadena, the Northern Gateway to the Quill Lakes International Bird Area.^[27] Wadena Wildlife Wetlands and Wadena Museum and Nature Centre are features of Wadena, the Northern Gateway to the Quill Lakes International Bird Area.^[27] These communities along with Quill Lake, “Goose Capital of Saskatchewan”, are all part of the Quill Lakes communities of Quill Lake.^[28]

Highway 5's next minor intersections are at Kylemore and Highway 665 (km 222), Kuroki and Highway 38 (km 232), Highway 310 (km 234), Margo (km 244), Highway 617 and Invermay (km 256). Good Spirit REDA extends from Carlton Trail REDA to the Manitoba border, with its focus being tourism. The REDA is an agriculture based area around Good Spirit Provincial Park.^[29] Highway 755 connects with Rama (km 268) and Theodore.

Rama was incorporated as a village in 1919 by John Berge. It is located on the edge of Spirit Creek, a tributary of Good Spirit Lake. Rama is home to St. Michaels church, a provincial historical site. Also at home in Rama is the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Anthony's Church. A religious pilgrimage is held at the grotto each year on August 14 and 15, persons of all faith are always welcome and all are free to have a self-guided tour of the grotto and attend the annual pilgrimage.

Olysky (Big Sky Farms) runs large factory hog production facilities in the area.

The highway then leaves Rama and continues on through Dernic (km 278), Highway 47 and Buchanan (km 286). Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park is located south of Buchanan and south west of Canora. Camping facilities provide access to beaches, lake and a small area of sand dunes.^[30] Highway 5 continues through the appropriately named hamlet of Tiny and intersects with Highway 664 (km 299). To the north of Highway 664 is the Sturgis ski hill, as well as small heritage museums in both Sturgis and Preeceville.^[22] The junction with Highway 651 is at km 309. The town of Canora, “Heart of Good Spirit Country”, is at km 311, where Highway 5 has a 2 km concurrency with Highway 9, the Saskota flyway.^[22] "Lesia", a 25 feet (7.6 m) statue of a traditionally dressed Ukrainian woman offering bread and salt to travelers at Canora. Also within Canora are the Canora Station House Museum, Ukrainian Heritage Museum and Canada's Only Toy and Autograph Museum.^[31] Ukrainian Orthodox Heritage Church of the Holy Trinity in Canora was designated a heritage site in 1984 by the town of Canora and it underwent restoration.^[32] In the Good Spirit REDA, Canora features a flax straw processing plant, manufacturing plant, and meat processing plant.^[29]

Verigin, Saskatchewan 1907

The next few intersections on Highway 5 are at Highway 650 and Ross Junction (km 319), Mikado (km 326), and Veregin and Highway 637 (km 339). The town of Kamsack, at km 352, is the last major town that Highway 5 passes through. Within Kamsack is the Kamsack Power House Museum which features local artifacts and historic memorabilia.^[33] The National Doukhobour Heritage Village is a historical attraction at Verigin.^[A][34] Highway 5 also intersects Highway 8 near Kamsack. The highway is paved between Saskatoon and Kamsack, and gravel and unpaved through Togo and onwards to the Manitoba border.

To the north of Highway 5, and east of Kamsack is the Duck Mountain Provincial Park. This height of land location features Madge Lake, camping, fishing, and horse stables. The highest elevation is near the Manitoba border near Duck Mountain. Highway 5 travels south of Duck Mountain which has an elevation of between 700 to 800 metres (2,300 to 2,600 ft).^[11] Highway 5 then intersects Highway 57 at km 360. From Highway 57, the highway turns south and meanders to the southeast as it passes the access to the town of Coté (km 365) and through the towns of Runnymede (km 374) and Togo (km 387), where it also intersects Highway 357 and Highway 369. The Manitoba border is at km 388, where Highway 5 becomes Provincial Road 363.

History

The early Red River cart trail traversed the North West Territory prairies between Portage la Prairie and Edmonton via Humboldt and Battleford, intersecting the future location of Highway 5 at Humboldt. The Dominion Government Telegraph Line was constructed in 1875, which was parallel to the future Highway 5.^[35][36]

Provincial Hwy 5

Both Red River Cart trail and telegraph line were abandoned in the 1920s.^[37]

In 1925, Provincial Highway 5, the Evergreen Route, followed the surveyed rail line route of the Canadian Northern Railway, later the Canadian National Railway.^[38] Provincial Highway 5 had a western terminus at Lloydminster located on the Alberta - Saskatchewan border. When the province was surveyed, the road evolved from a dirt road to a gravel road. This was finally improved to an all-weather road known as Provincial Highway 5 from the Alberta–Saskatchewan border bypassing Saskatoon to the north, and continuing on to the Manitoba–Saskatchewan border. Just as the rail line went through Aberdeen, Warman, and Langham, so too did Provincial Highway 5.

SK Highway 5 begins traveling east.

In 1925, access from Saskatoon to Provincial Highway 5 was via Provincial Highway 12 which was a route due north of the city. The other connection was Provincial Highway 27 which traveled east and north from Saskatoon connecting to Provincial Highway 5 at the junction located at the town of Aberdeen. In the late 1950s and 1960s, the highway was straightened and widened. During this process, the current Saskatchewan Highway 5 connected Humboldt and Saskatoon in a more direct west and east highway. The old place names of Warman, Aberdeen, Vonda, Prudhomme, Dana, Bruno, and Carmel located on Provincial Highway 5 were no longer place names along Saskatchewan Highway 5. Now the Highway 17 concurrency was the only north-south stretch between Humboldt and Saskatoon and Meacham the only place name. On August 15, 1970 the Yellowhead was opened for the northern Trans-Canada route and the north western half of Provincial Highway 5 between Saskatoon and Lloydminster was designated as Saskatchewan Highway 16, the Yellowhead route.

Sk Hwy 5 ends signage at the junction of 5 and 16 in Saskatoon as of Aug 5, 1976.

Travel along the Provincial Highway 5 before the 1940s would have been traveling on the square 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.^[39] 1926 Saskatchewan map

Highway 5 was constructed through Englefeld in 1961.^[40]:[14] John Koenig was one of the first residents of Englefeld to own a car, a Ford touring car purchased in the 1920s.^[40]:[229]

Upgrades

Divided highway ends signage

Canadian Pacific Railway crossing lights were installed on Highway 5 at the east end of Humboldt. At the junction of Highway 20 and Highway 5, there were traffic lights installed in 1973.^[41] West Humboldt properties announced in the fall of 2008 that The Quill Centre will be opened in the fall of 2009 along Highway 5.^[42]

Jan 3, 1910, was the first meeting of the RM of Blucher 343. In 1911, early homesteaders could choose to pay taxes at $9.00 per quarter section of land or working off $4.00 of this expense by constructing roads. A labourer and two horse team could earn 50 cents an hour and a four horse team with a driver was allotted 70 cents an hour.^[43]

A resurfacing improvement project was undertaken for an 11.7 kilometres (7.3 mi) stretch between Mikado and Canora. The $1 million project was completed the summer of 2001. In the summer of 2000, 13.1 kilometres (8.1 mi) received resurfacing improvements between Verigin and Mikado.^[44] In February 2003, the Department of Highways awarded a tender to resurface 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Quill Lake and eastward. "We are maintaining our focus on building better highways. Work on this $940,000 resurfacing project ... should be complete within two weeks", said Highways and Transportation Minister Mark Wartman.^[45]

Intersections from west to east

Rural municipality	Location	km[1]	mi	Destinations	Notes
City of Saskatoon		−6.5	−4.0	Idylwyld Drive To Hwy 11 / Hwy 16 (TCH) To Hwy 7 / Hwy 14 west	Intersection of 23rd Street E. and Idylwyld Drive N. Former beginning of Hwy 5
		−6.0	−3.7	2nd Avenue N	Hwy 5 turns north
		−5.6	−3.5	25th Street E	Hwy 5 turns east
		−4.7	−2.9	University Bridge across South Saskatchewan River • Becomes College Drive E
		0	0.0	Circle Drive – Airport Hwy 11 – Prince Albert, Regina Hwy 16 (TCH) – Yorkton, The Battlefords, Lloydminster	Hwy 5 begins[46][47]
		12.2	7.6	Hwy 41 east – Aberdeen, Wakaw, Melfort	Annexed in 2010.[48] College Drive ends
Grant		21.2	13.2	Hwy 316 south – Clavet
		41.4	25.7	671 Hwy 671 north – St. Denis, Vonda	Concurrency with Hwy 671 south begins
		41.4	25.7	671 Hwy 671 south – Elstow	Concurrency with Hwy 671 south begins
Colonsay		64.4	40.0	Hwy 2 south – Watrous, Chamberlain, Moose Jaw	Concurrency with Hwy 2 north begins
Bayne		69.9	43.4	Hwy 2 north – Cudworth, Wakaw, Prince Albert	Concurrency with Hwy 2 north ends
		78.5	48.8	670 Hwy 670 – Bruno, Viscount
City	Humboldt	114.0	70.8	Hwy 20 – Birch Hills, Lanigan, Nokomis
St. Peter	Muenster	124.1	77.1	Hwy 368 north – Lake Lenore, St. Brieux, Beatty
	St. Gregor	133.8	83.1	667 Hwy 667 south – Esk
Town	Englefeld	146.6	91.1
Town	Watson	155.7	96.7	Hwy 6 north – Naicam, Melfort	Concurrency with Hwy 6 south begins
		156.0	96.9	Hwy 6 south – Dafoe, Raymore, Regina	Concurrency with Hwy 6 south ends
Town	Quill Lake	156.6	97.3	640 Hwy 640 – Wynyard, Punnichy	northern end of concurrency
Village	Clair	189.2	117.6
Town	Wadena	210.0	130.5	Hwy 35 – Tisdale, Rose Valley, Elfros
Sasman	Kylemore	222.2	138.1	665 Hwy 665 north
	Kuroki	222.2	138.1	Hwy 38 north – Kelvington, Porcupine Plain
		224.0	139.2	Hwy 310 south – Foam Lake, Ituna
	Margo	245.3	152.4
	Invermay	256.9	159.6	617 Hwy 617 – Lintlaw, Sheho
Village	Rama	269.5	167.5
Village	Buchanan	287.3	178.5	Hwy 47 – Preeceville, Springside, Melville
		287.5	178.6	754 Hwy 754 east
Good Lake		309.8	192.5	651 Hwy 651 west – Theodore
Town	Canora	312.3	194.1	Hwy 9 north – Sturgis, Preeceville, Hudson Bay	Concurrency with Hwy 9 south begins
Good Lake		313.7	194.9	Hwy 9 south – Yorkton, Whitewood, Carlyle	Concurrency with Hwy 9 south ends
Sliding Hills		318.6	198.0	650 Hwy 650 south
	Mikado	325.4	202.2
		330.9	205.6	637 Hwy 637 south – Rhein, Dunleith
Village	Veregin	338.8	210.5	637 Hwy 637 north – Norquay	Concurrence with Hwy 637 north ends
Town	Kamsack	351.1	218.2	Hwy 8 south – Wroxton, Langenburg, Moosomin	Concurrency with Hwy 8 north begins
		351.2	218.2	Hwy 8 north – Pelly, Norquay	Concurrency with Hwy 8 north ends
Cote		359.1	223.1	Hwy 57 east – Duck Mountain Provincial Park	Hwy 5 turns south Junction is located north of the village of Cote Highway travels southeast for the duration
		384.1	238.7	Hwy 369 south – Hwy 10
	Togo	384.5	238.9	Hwy 357 west – Hwy 8
	​	385.5	239.5	Saskatchewan – Manitoba border	Hwy 5 ends
Continues as PR 363 east – PTH 83
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Closed/former       Concurrency terminus

Notes

^A Veregin appears a common spelling variant of the surname Verigin, fairly common among the Doukhobors. In fact, the village name is spelled as Verigin^[49]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saskatchewan Highway 5.

Route map: Bing / Google