# Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure (Saskatchewan)

The Ministry of Highways is divided into the Operations, Policy and Programs, and Corporate Services Divisions and the Communications Branch. The ministry is the employer of over 1,476 employees diversified amongst 105 communities in Saskatchewan. The current Minister of Highways and Infrastructure is Jeremy Cockrill.

## Operations Division

The Operation Division has the responsibility of maintaining 9,249 kilometres (5,747 mi) of asphalt concrete pavements, 4,929 kilometres (3,063 mi) of granular pavements, 6,102 kilometres (3,792 mi) of thin membrane surface (TMS) highways, 5,621 kilometres (3,493 mi) of gravel highways, 171 kilometres (106 mi) of ice roads, 805 kilometres (500 mi) bridges, 453 kilometres (281 mi) large culverts, 12 ferries, one barge and 17 northern airports. Operational maintenance includes surface repair activities like crack filling, sealing, and patching; snow and ice control; pavement marking; signing; and ferry operations. Along with engineering, construction and design of the provincial road network, the operations division provides regulations, inspections and advice to the rural municipalities (R.M.) for the municipal road network.

### Ferries

All ferries in Saskatchewan are operated by the Government of Saskatchewan and, with the exception of the Wollaston Barge Ferry, are toll free. All are seasonal, with ferries generally operating from mid-April to mid-November, depending on ice conditions. The ferries operated include:
* Cecil Ferry
* Clarkboro Ferry
* Estuary Ferry
* Fenton Ferry
* Hague Ferry
* Lancer Ferry
* Lemsford Ferry
* Paynton Ferry
* Riverhurst Ferry
* St. Laurent Ferry
* Weldon Ferry
* Wingard Ferry
* Wollaston Barge Ferry

## History

During the term of office for Eiling Kramer, 1972–1980, the Provincial Highway received extensive funding and paving for the entire system neared completion. Saskatchewan Highway 11 was restructured under the term of office of David Boldt, Minister 1966-1971.
John T. Douglas, during his term of office 1944-1960 established the Saskatchewan Transportation Company as a Crown Corporation of the government. Alan Carl Stewart, Minister of Highways 1929-1934, allocated $20 million for highway construction in Saskatchewan. George Spence, Minister of Highways 1927-1929, was responsible for the initiation of numbering Saskatchewan highways.
The first Board of Highways Commissioners was appointed by the provincial government in 1912, and the first Department of Highways was established in 1917. On 1 September 1934, the name was changed from the Department of Highways to the Department of Highways and Transportation. Effective 21 November 2007 the Department of Highways and Transportation became the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure.
   Up until 1904 all municipal affairs were administered by the Territorial Dept. of Public Works. In 1904, [Churchbridge]...became a portion of a larger area known as a Local Improvement District of approximately 144 square miles (370 km$^2$) square miles...Road construction costs around 1900, were very low. The cost of building a road 20 feet (6.1 m) wide with an 0 feet 18 inches (0.46 m) crown cost approximately $30, per 1 mile (1.6 km)
   A person could work for the municipality and have his earnings put toward the taxes on his land; at one time, money collected in each Division stayed in that Division....The RM has as its responsibilities for many areas: agricultural programs and concerns in general; tax collections for needs of the municipality — road construction and maintenance; protective services — pest control, fire protection, weed control, environmental development, cultural and educational services; medical and veterinary needs and so forth.
   Originally roadwork was done by horsepower, and the municipality owned its horses and equipment. It was found that roadwork under the supervision of a councilor cost half as much as that under a road commission system. There were problems with labor. One cold November payday the whole crew quit, with not one left to even feed the horses. In 1909 a foreman shot one of his crew; the [Indian Head] council minutes make no further comment.
   The building of these roads is under the personal supervision of the rural councilors of the R.M. The Provincial Government each year makes a substantial grant to the Municipality for permanent trunk road building.
   In 1913 the road system consisted of miles of prairie trails. The roads gradually improved with the assistance of jointly funded Provincial and Municipal road programs such as the Grid Road program, the Main Farm Access program, and the Super Grid system which led to the eventual formation of Municipal Maintenance Areas. The RM's of Gull Lake, Carmichael, and Webb formed Maintenance Area No. 1, the first in the Province.

## Policy and Programs Division

The Policy and Programs Division works with other legislative and regulatory agencies to ensure an optimal transportation network is provided via road, rail, air, and marine.

## Corporate Services Division

Corporate Services Division is responsible for the budgeting, finances, and forecasting for the needs of the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure.

## Communications Branch

The Communications Branch of the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure maintains the news releases, safety awareness and education programs.

## Saskatchewan Highway Patrol

The 14 detachments operate six border and seven interior weigh stations, three 24-hour self-weigh decks and one Mobile Vehicle Inspection Station. The head office regulates their operations in compliance with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and the Canadian Council Motor Transport Administrators. They are a member of the Saskatchewan Protection and Response Team (PRT) responsible for reducing rural crime throughout the province.

## Area Transportation Planning Support Program

Area Transportation Planning (ATP) Support Program analyzes transportation in regional areas to provide funding for regional needs. Committees which comprise representatives from the local rural and urban municipalities, Regional Economic Development Authorities (REDA), Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, and Highways and Infrastructure analyze local needs and the effects of the increased use of grain via truck transportation and the decreased use of rail transport is having on road infrastructure. There are currently 9 committees which comprise the majority of Saskatchewan except for an area near La Ronge and Southend.
* Athabasica Basin Transportation Planning Committee
* North North West Transportation Planning Committee
* North North East Transportation Planning Committee
* West Central Transportation Planning Committee
* Central Transportation Planning Committee
* North East Area Transportation Planning Committee
* East Central Transportation Planning Committee
* South East Transportation Planning Committee
* South Central Transportation Planning Committee
* Southwest Transportation Planning Committee

## The Strategic Partnership Program

The Strategic Partnership Program analyzes low traffic volume thin membrane surface highways working with rural municipalities and First Nation agencies to provide an effective and operational traffic flow between thin membrane surface highways and the provincial network.

## Community Airport Partnership

Community Airport Partnership (CAP) provides a mandate to the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure to maintain and assist southern airport infrastructure.

## Adopt-A-Highway Program

Groups or individuals may sponsor a 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) stretch of highway to pick up litter and maintain highway appearances.

## Past ministers

Ministers historically :
| Term | Minister | Title | Administration |
| 6 January 2020 – Present | Honourable Fred Bradshaw | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Scott Moe |
| 20 November 2020 – 6 January 2020 | Honourable Joe Hargrave | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Scott Moe |
| 21 November 2007 | Honourable Wayne Elhard | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Brad Wall |
| 12 October 2001 – 21 November 2007 | Honourable Mark Wartman | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Lorne Calvert |
| 8 February 2001 – 12 October 2001 | Honourable Patricia Atkinson | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Lorne Calvert |
| 30 September 1999 – 8 February 2001 | Honourable Maynard Sonntag | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Roy Romanow |
| 27 June 1997 – 30 September 1999 | Honourable Judy Llewellyn Bradley | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Roy Romanow |
| 29 April 1997 – 27 June 1997 | Honourable Clay J. Serby | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Roy Romanow |
| 20 September 1993 – 25 April 1997 | Honourable Andrew (Andy) L.J. Renaud | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Roy Romanow |
| 4 June 1993 – 20 September 1993 | Honourable Darrel Cunningham | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Roy Romanow |
| 29 September 1992 – 4 June 1993 | Honourable Murray James Koskie | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Roy Romanow |
| 1 November 1991 – 29 September 1992 | Honourable Bernhard H. Wiens | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Roy Romanow |
| 3 October 1989 – 1 November 1991 | Honourable Sherwin Petersen | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Grant Devine |
| 16 December 1985 – 3 October 1989 | Honourable Grant Milton Hodgins | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Grant Devine |
| 4 December 1985 – 16 December 1985 | Honourable Donald Grant Devine | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Grant Devine |
| 8 May 1982 – 4 December 1985 | Honourable James William Arthur Garner | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Grant Devine |
| 16 December 1980 – 8 May 1982 | Honourable Robert Gavin Long | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Allan Blakeney |
| 12 May 1972 – 16 December 1980 | Honourable Eiling Kramer | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Allan Blakeney |
| 30 June 1971 – 12 May 1972 | Honourable Neil Erland Byers | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Allan Blakeney |
| 18 October 1966 – 30 June 1971 | Honourable David Boldt | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Ross Thatcher |
| 22 May 1964 – 18 October 1966 | Honourable Gordon Burton Grant | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Ross Thatcher |
| 7 November 1961 – 22 May 1964 | Honourable Clarence George Willis | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Woodrow Stanley Lloyd |
| 1 August 1960 – 7 November 1961 | Honourable Clarence George Willis | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Tommy Douglas |
| 10 July 1944 – 1 August 1960 | Honourable John T. Douglas | Highways and Transportation Minister | under Tommy Douglas |
| 1 December 1938 – 10 July 1944 | Honourable Arthur Thomas Procter | Highways and Transportation Minister | under William John Patterson |
| 3 November 1938 – 1 December 1938 | Honourable William Franklin Kerr | Highways and Transportation Minister | under William John Patterson |
| 1 November 1935 – 3 November 1938 | Honourable Charles Morton Dunn | Highways and Transportation Minister | under William John Patterson |
| 1 September 1934 – 1 November 1935 | Honourable Charles Morton Dunn | Highways and Transportation Minister | under James Garfield Gardiner |
| 19 July 1934 – 1 September 1934 | Honourable Charles Morton Dunn | Minister of Highways | under James Garfield Gardiner |
| 9 September 1929 – 19 July 1934 | Honourable Alan Carl Stewart | Minister of Highways | under James T.M. Anderson |
| 8 December 1927 – 9 September 1929 | Honourable George Spence | Minister of Highways | under James Garfield Gardiner |
| 10 November 1926 – 8 December 1927 | Honourable William John Patterson | Minister of Highways | under James Garfield Gardiner |
| 5 April 1922 – 10 November 1926 | Honourable James Garfield Gardiner | Minister of Highways | under Charles Avery Dunning |
| 14 June 1921 – 5 April 1922 | Honourable Charles McGill Hamilton | Minister of Highways | under William Melville Martin |
| 20 October 1917 – 14 June 1921 | Honourable Samuel John Latta | Minister of Highways | under William Melville Martin |
| 2 April 1917 – 20 October 1917 | Honourable James Alexander Calder | Minister of Highways | under William Melville Martin |
| 1916 to 1922 | None | No Department est. | under William Melville Martin |
| 1905–1916 | Honourable James Alexander Calder | Minister of Railways, Telephones and Highways | under Thomas Walter Scott |

## Statistics

Road lengths presently and historically :
| Type | Length | Year |
| Railway track: | 95,137 kilometres (59,115 mi) | 2007 |
| Highways, roads and streets: | 198,239 kilometres (123,180 mi) | 2007 |
| Paved, two-lane: | 11,822 kilometres (7,346 mi) | 2007 |
| Paved, four-lane, divided: | 2,356 kilometres (1,464 mi) | 2007 |
| Oil treatments: | 6,102 kilometres (3,792 mi) | 2007 |
| Gravel and other: | 5,752 kilometres (3,574 mi) | 2007 |
| Total Provincial Highways: | 26,032 kilometres (16,176 mi) | 2007 |
| Asphalt concrete pavements: | 9,249 kilometres (5,747 mi) | 2007 |
| Granular pavements: | 4,929 kilometres (3,063 mi) | 2007 |
| Thin membrane surface: | 6,102 kilometres (3,792 mi) | 2007 |
| Gravel highways: | 5,621 kilometres (3,493 mi) | 2007 |
| Ice roads: | 171 kilometres (106 mi) | 2007 |
| Large culverts: | 453 kilometres (281 mi) | 2007 |
| Bridges: | 805 kilometres (500 mi) | 2007 |
| Ferries: | 12 | 2007 |
| Northern Airports: | 17 | 2007 |
| Portland Cement Concrete: | 0 | 1948-49 |
| Bituminous Pavements: | 0 | 1948-49 |
| Bituminous Surface: | 498 miles (801 km) | 1948-49 |
| Gravel/Crushed Stone: | 12,647 miles (20,353 km) | 1948-49 |
| Other Surfaces: | 62 miles (100 km) | 1948-49 |
| Total Surfaced Road: | 13,207 miles (21,255 km) | 1948-49 |
| Improved Earth: | 77,779 miles (125,173 km) | 1948-49 |
| Other Earth Roads: | 121,992 miles (196,327 km) | 1948-49 |
| Total Non Surfaced Road: | 199,771 miles (321,500 km) | 1948-49 |
| Road Total: | 212,978 miles (342,755 km) | 1948-49 |