Saskatchewan Trans-Canada Highway History

The Trans-Canada Highway in Saskatchewan runs west to east roughly parallel with the transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway route built in 1885, which over the early 1900s connected larger settlements in the provinces rich agricultural lands. The Saskatchewan portion of the Trans–Canada Highway was the first to be completed in Canada. Premier Tommy C. Douglas presided over the opening ceremonies in 1957, opening the 650 km (404 mi) Saskatchewan segment of the Trans–Canada Highway.

The Trans-Canada became a four lane expressway in 1968, moving traffic away from the main streets in Swift Current and Moose Jaw.

In 2011, the section between Moose Jaw and Regina was designated “Saskatchewan’s Highway of Heroes” to honour province’s soldiers who died in service.

The Regina Bypass, a partial ring road on the west, south, and east portions of Regina, opened in October 2019, and the Highway 1 designation was moved to the bypass. The Regina Bypass also serves a new route for Highway 11, the main route connecting to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan’s largest city, which lies on the Yellowhead Route, Highway #16.