Saskatchewan Highway 35

Highway 35 is a paved undivided provincial highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.[2] It runs from the US Border near Port of Oungre (where it meets United States Route 85) to a dead end near the north shore of Tobin Lake. Saskatchewan Highway 35 (SK Hwy 35) is about 569 kilometres (354 mi) long.[1] The CanAm Highway comprises Saskatchewan Highways 35, SK Hwy 39, SK Hwy 6, SK Hwy 3, SK Hwy 2 and U.S. Route 85.[3] 74.6 kilometres (46.4 mi) of SK Hwy 35 contribute to the CanAm Highway between Port of Oungre on the Canada – United States border and Weyburn.[1] Mudslides, and spring flooding were huge road building and maintenance problems around Nipawin as well as along the southern portion of the route named the Greater Yellow Grass Marsh. Over 20 early dams were built until the problem was addressed with the Rafferty-Alameda Project on the Souris River and the construction of the Qu'Appelle River Dam which have helped to eliminate washed out roads and flooded communities. The highway through the homesteading community followed the Dominion Land Survey on the square until reaching the Saskatchewan River at Nipawin. The completion of the combined railway and traffic bridge over the Saskatchewan River at Nipawin in the late 1920s retired the ferry and basket crossing for traffic north of Nipawin. The E.B. Campbell Dam built in 1963 northeast of Nipawin created Tobin Lake, and Codette Lake was formed with the construction of the Francois-Finlay Hydroelectric dam at Nipawin. The railway/traffic bridge that formed part of Highway 35 was the only crossing utilized at Nipawin until a new traffic bridge was constructed in 1974. The new bridge then became part of the combined Highway 35 and 55 until the highway parts just east of White Fox. Highway 35 then continued north along the west side of Tobin Lake. The railway/traffic bridge continues to be utilized for one lane vehicle traffic controlled by traffic lights, and continues as the "old highway 35" on the west side of the river until it joins with the current Highway 35/55.

Highway 35
CanAm Highway (segment)
Route information
Maintained by Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure & Transport Canada
Length	568.9 km[1] (353.5 mi)
Major junctions
South end	Canada-US border (US 85) at Port of Oungre
	Hwy 18 at Oungre Hwy 39 in Weyburn Hwy 13 in Weyburn Hwy 33 at Francis Hwy 48 between Vibank and Odessa Hwy 1 (TCH) near Qu'Appelle Hwy 10 at Fort Qu'Appelle Hwy 22 at Lipton Hwy 15 at Leross Hwy 16 (TCH) near Elfros Hwy 5 at Wadena Hwy 49 near Fosston Hwy 3 at Tisdale Hwy 55 at Nipawin and White Fox
North end	Torch River north of Tobin Lake
Location
Rural municipalities	Souris Valley, Lomond, Wellington, Francis, South Qu'Appelle, North Qu'Appelle, Lipton, Emerald, Elfros, Lakeview, Ponass Lake, Barrier Valley, Tisdale, Connaught, Torch River, Nipawin
Major cities	Weyburn
Highway system
Provincial highways in Saskatchewan ← Hwy 34 → Hwy 36

Route description

SK Hwy 35 Between Fort Qu'Appelle and Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan

Highway 35 connects with the major Saskatchewan Highways SK Hwy 18, SK Hwy 39, SK Hwy 33, SK Hwy 38, SK Hwy 1, SK Hwy 22, SK Hwy 15, SK Hwy 16, SK Hwy 5, 3, and SK Hwy 55. The major communities of Weyburn, Fort Qu'Appelle, Wadena, Tisdale, and Nipawin are en route. SK Hwy 35 has three distinct topographical areas when driving through Saskatchewan. The rolling moraines and valleys of the mixed grassland give way to aspen parkland. The aspen parkland encompasses both the Qu'Appelle River and the Quill Lakes saline water basin areas. The northern portion of the route is southern boreal forest which still features agricultural land with more heavily forested areas.

CanAm highway

The southern portion of SK Hwy 35 from the Canada–United States border to Weyburn forms the initial segment of the CanAm Highway. The terrain is mixed prairie featuring rolling moraines and valleys.[4] North American Free Trade Agreement NAFTA super corridors are a concept of huge transportation corridors connecting Mexico, United States, and Canada. The CanAm highway was a concept begun in the 1920s.[5] This area has been subject to criticism as the entry way to Canada of this route.[6] "The CanAm matters so little to Saskatchewan highway planners that they've turned the most southern part of it within the province -- the Highway 35 link from Weyburn to the little U.S. border crossing at Oungre -- to gravel.[5] SK Hwy 35 achieved a dishonourable mention in the Canadian contest entitled 'Highways from Hell'.[7]

SK Hwy 35

"Brenda Bakken Lackey called Highway 35 an “embarrassment’’ and a hazard for truckers’ business since it was turned into a gravel roadway last year[2004]. 'When it rains, there is mud and when it is dry, there is flying dust and gravel,' she said. 'Truckers from my constituency tell me that the U.S. Customs officials say they are not going to put up with the mud that is coming across on the trucks. There is also concerns about grain seeds and weeds coming across in the mud on truck tires.'...Highway Minister Maynard Sonntag said. 'Highway No. 6 has a much higher traffic count, many more trucks in and out from the States than Highway No. 35 would have.’' "[8] "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.,' Sonntag said.[9] "Highway 35 from Wadena South is always an adventure. I have found my driving skills have improved immensely especially when it comes to emergency braking and swerving to avoid the many areas of broken pavement. This past spring the Dept. of Highways could have saved thousands in signage costs if they only had put up warning signs where the road was smooth and unbroken."[10] The regional parks in this area are Nickle Lake, Mainprize, and Oungre Memorial as well as the Rafferty Reservoir.[11]

1897 Hudson’s Bay Company store in Fort Qu'Appelle

Weyburn is the only city on SK Hwy 35 and has been dubbed the Soo Line City due its connection with Chicago on the Soo Line of the Canadian Pacific Railway CPR.[12] The city of 9,433 [13] people is situated on SK Hwy 35, SK Hwy 39, and SK Hwy 13.[14] The small towns of Exon and Converge have been absorbed into the city of Weyburn today.[15] Weyburn is located astride the Williston geological Basin which contains oil deposits, and several wells operate in the vicinity.[14] Weyburn features roadside attractions of a large lighthouse water tower, wheat sheaves and prairie lily.[16]

Aspen parkland

Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Station Fort Qu'Appelle.

The Squirrel Hills are a topographical feature south of the Qu'Appelle River. The town of Qu'Appelle with a population over 600, had historic beginnings with fur trading posts in this area, and is located within the South Qu'appelle No. 157 rural municipality RM at the intersection of SK Hwy 35 with SK Hwy 1, the TransCanada.[13] Qu'Appelle was first named Troy, and was an administrative centre of the North West Territories before Saskatchewan was incorporated as a province.[17] The terrain changes from mixed prairie to aspen parkland and the frequency of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) bluffs increase.[4] Fort Qu'Appelle, with a population near 2,000, has a vibrant history being an early fur trading post south of Pasqua Lake and north of Fishing Lake, two of the Calling Lakes. Fort Qu'Appelle is located at the junction of SK Hwy 35, SK Hwy 10, SK Hwy 22, SK Hwy 727, SK Hwy 56, and SK Hwy 215.[18]

1897 Hudson’s Bay Company plaque in Fort Qu'Appelle

The 1897 Hudson’s Bay Company store, 1911 Grand Trunk Pacific Railway station, Fort Qu’Appelle Sanatorium (Fort San), and the Treaty 4 Governance Centre are all landmarks of this community.[19] A billboard and reconstructed Fort Qu'Appelle commemorate the history of the area where Treaty 4 was signed.[20] The population of Elfros has dropped from about 300 residents in 1955 to 110 in 2006.[13] It is located at the intersection of Hwy 16, the Yellowhead TransCanada. SK Hwy 35 traverses between the Little Touchwood Hills and Touchwood Hills area to the west and the Beaver Hills area on the east. Wadena at the SK Hwy 5 intersection hosts the Wadena & District Museum as well as the Jesmer & Milligan Marsh Projects Interpretative Center with information regarding the Quill Lakes International Shorebird Reserve.[21] Ponass Lake, Barrier Lake, Marean Lake, and Tobin Lake all feature resort areas, with the largest attraction in this area being the Greenwater Lake Provincial Park.[22]

Southern boreal forest

SK Hwy 35

The terrain which SK Hwy 35 travels through north of the Saskatchewan tree line is southern boreal forest marked by aspen combined with jackpine, tamarack and white spruce forested areas.[4] The traffic count at the intersection of Hwy 35 and Hwy 3 at Tisdale is 11,200 vehicles per day. Tisdale is located in the heart of an agricultural community and honours the farming community with a big roadside statue of a honey bee, the land of Rape and Honey.[23] The Nipawin Evergreen Golf Club has been rated amongst the top 100 golf courses of Canada. Nipawin is nestled between two created lakes, Tobin Lake and Codette Lake, hence its nickname "The Town on Two Lakes".[24] The François-Finlay Hydro Station created Codette Lake in 1986.[25] White Fox has honoured its namesake with a large white fox by the side of the road. The statue was built in 1995 as a "Welcome to the Village of White Fox, built by Families for Families, population 465".[26] North of White Fox is "Tobin Lake, located 275 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. Created in 1963 by the damming of the Saskatchewan River, Tobin boasts more than 75,000 acres (300 km²) of sandy shoals, shallow bays and submerged timber."[27] The E.B. Campbell Dam can be accessed from the south east shore of Tobin Lake. SK Hwy 35 skirts along the north west shore of Tobin Lake, giving access to fishing locales from the highway access, such as Carrolls Cove Campground, Carol's Cove and Pruden's Point Resort, and Pruden's Point. Whereas, Scot's Landing is located on the Saskatchewan River.[28]

History

SK Hwy 35

The valleys of southern Saskatchewan have been subject to landslides. Most landslides occur in the Cretaceous shale formations many years ago following the receding of the continental ice sheet. In 1953, a rapid flow landslide destroyed a portion of SK Hwy 35 near Fort Qu'Appelle in the Echo Creek Valley.[29] Weyburn is situated near the upper delta of the 470 kilometres (290 mi) long Souris River. The Souris River continues southeast through North Dakota eventually meeting the Assiniboine River in Manitoba.[12] In the 19th century this area was known as an extension of the Greater Yellow Grass Marsh. "Extensive flood control programs have created reservoirs, parks and waterfowl centres along the Souris River."[14] Between 1988 and 1995, the Rafferty-Alameda Project was constructed to alleviate spring flooding problems created by the Souris River.[30]

Buildings along SK Hwy 35

The rural municipality of Indian Head No. 156 contained amongst its communities Fort Qu'Appelle and South Qu'Appelle in the late 19th century and early 20th century. One of the early problems was spring flooding from the neighboring Qu'Appelle river when it overflowed its banks washing out bridges. 21 dams were built in the pioneering days to help with the yearly flooding. The steel bridge built over the Qu'Appelle river at Blackwood Crossing eased problems of communication and commerce immensely.[31] The Qu'Appelle River Dam and the Gardiner Dam formed Lake Diefenbaker. The Qu'Appele River Dam is the origin of the Qu'Appelle River from whence it flows east to the confluence with the Assiniboine River in the province of Manitoba.[4] The Doghide / Leather River, and the Leather/Carrot River fork between Nipawin and Tisdale. These rivers have also contributed to spring flooding in the region. The historic Leather River Bridge is no longer being used but is an example of a steel truss bridge.[32]

The ferry was the first method of transport across the Saskatchewan River at Nipawin. A basket which was propelled above the river on wire could safely transport persons and mail across the river when travel was unsafe because of the ice break up. The CPR bridge opened to traffic in 1932, to be replaced by a steel bridge with concrete piers which was opened by the Saskatchewan Department of Highways in 1974.[33]

The highway runs south to north, and historically did not run on the square following both range and township surveyed road allowances, but rather was allowed to run straight and true along township roads for the most part. The road traveled parallel to the rail between Wadena and Nipawin.[34]

The Humboldt Broncos bus crash occurred on this highway at the intersection with Saskatchewan Highway 335 on April 6, 2018.[35]

Major intersections

From south to north:[36]

Rural municipality	Location	km[1]	mi	Destinations	Notes
Souris Valley No. 7	Port of Oungre	0.0	0.0	US 85 south (CanAm Highway) – Fortuna, Williston	Continues into North Dakota
				Canada–United States border at Fortuna–Oungre Border Crossing
	​	9.8	6.1	Hwy 707 west – Beaubier
	Oungre	16.2	10.1	Hwy 18 – Minton, Estevan
	Tribune	27.9	17.3
Lomond No. 37	​	46.2	28.7	Hwy 705 west – Colgate	South end of Hwy 705 concurrency
	​	52.7	32.7	Hwy 705 east – Halbrite	North end of Hwy 705 concurrency
City of Weyburn		74.6	46.4	Hwy 39 – Moose Jaw, Regina, Estevan	CanAm Highway follows Hwy 39 north
		74.7	46.4	Crosses the Souris River
		75.7	47.0	Hwy 13 (1st Avenue NW / Red Coat Trail) – Assiniboia, Carlyle
Wellington No. 97	​	98.4	61.1	Hwy 742 east – Fillmore
	​	107.1	66.5	Hwy 306 west – Colfax, Riceton
Francis No. 127	Francis	124.0	77.1	Hwy 33 – Regina, Stoughton
		124.6	77.4	Hwy 708 east
	​	147.1	91.4	Hwy 48 – Regina, Montmartre	Between Vibank and Odessa
South Qu'Appelle No. 157	​	171.8	106.8	Hwy 1 (TCH) east – Indian Head, Winnipeg	Hwy 35 branches west; south end of Hwy 1 concurrency
	Qu'Appelle	172.4	107.1	Hwy 1 (TCH) west – Regina	Hwy 35 branches north; north end of Hwy 1 concurrency
North Qu'Appelle No. 187	​	192.2	119.4	Hwy 10 west – Regina	Hwy 35 branches east; south end of Hwy 10 concurrency
	Fort Qu'Appelle	202.5	125.8	Hwy 10 east – Melville, Yorkton	Hwy 35 branches north; north end of Hwy 10 concurrency
		202.7	126.0	Hwy 210 west (Broadway) – Echo Valley Provincial Park
		203.2	126.3	Crosses the Qu'Appelle River
		203.4	126.4	Hwy 56 – Fort San, Indian Head
Lipton No. 217	Lipton	218.3	135.6	Hwy 22 west – Southey
	​	246.9	153.4	Hwy 731 – Ituna
	Leross	261.3	162.4	Hwy 15 – Raymore, Ituna, Melville
Emerald No. 277	​	290.9	180.8	Hwy 743 – Wishart
Elfros No. 307	Elfros	311.7	193.7	Hwy 16 (TCH) – Saskatoon, Yorkton
	​	315.2	195.9	Hwy 745 east
Lakeview No. 337	Wadena	335.6	208.5	Hwy 5 – Saskatoon, Humboldt, Canora
	Hendon	351.7	218.5	Hwy 758 west – Quill Lake
↑ / ↓	​	358.2	222.6	Hwy 49 east – Kelvington, Preeceville
Ponass Lake No. 367	Fosston	363.9	226.1	Hwy 760 east
	Rose Valley	374.5	232.7	Hwy 756 east	South end of Hwy 756 concurrency
	​	377.8	234.8	Hwy 756 west – Spalding	North end of Hwy 756 concurrency
Barrier Valley No. 397	Archerwill	391.0	243.0	Hwy 349 east	South end of Hwy 349 concurrency
	​	404.5	251.3	Hwy 349 west – Naicam	North end of Hwy 349 concurrency
	​	419.6	260.7	Hwy 733 west – Pleasantdale	South end of Hwy 773 concurrency
	​	422.8	262.7	Hwy 773 east – McKague, Chelan	North end of Hwy 773 concurrency
Tisdale No. 427	​	432.8	268.9	Hwy 776 – Sylvania, Bjorkdale
	Tisdale	449.2	279.1	Hwy 3 – Melfort, Hudson Bay
Connaught No. 457	​	473.0	293.9	Hwy 748 east – Zenon Park
	​	473.8	294.4	Ridgedale access road
	Armley	478.7	297.5	Hwy 335 – Gronlid, Arborfield	Site of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash
Nipawin No. 487	Codette	498.2	309.6	Hwy 789 – Carrot River
	Nipawin	506.8	314.9	Old Highway 35 north	Connects to the Crooked Bridge (Old Nipawin Bridge)
		508.3	315.8	Hwy 55 east (Nipawin Road / NWWR) – Carrot River	South end of Hwy 55 concurrency
↑ / ↓	​	512.4	318.4	Nipawin Bridge across the Saskatchewan River
Torch River No. 488	​	518.1	321.9	Old Highway 35 south	Connects to the Crooked Bridge (Old Nipawin Bridge)
	White Fox	520.3	323.3	Hwy 55 west (NWWR) – Prince Albert	North end of Hwy 55 concurrency
	Tobin Lake	568.9	353.5
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Route transition

References

1. Google (March 5, 2018). "Highway 35 in Saskatchewan" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
2. "TYPE ADMN_CLASS TOLL_RD RTE_NUM1 RTE_NUM2 ROUTE 1 Gravel ." Government of Canada. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
3. "Western Canada Group Travel Planner: Getting to Western Canada". 1999–2003. Archived from the original on 2007-09-19. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
4. Fung, Ka-iu; Barry, Bill (1999). Atlas of Saskatchewan (Celebrating the Millennium ed.). Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: University of Saskatchewan. ISBN 0-88880-387-7..
5. "'Super corridor' theories simply updated old idea". The StarPhoenix. August 28, 2007. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
6. "Highway 39 port Canada Border Services Agency". Government of Canada. 2008-04-08. Archived from the original on 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
7. "Saskatchewan wins 'Highways from Hell' contest". CBC. September 18, 2003. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
8. "Headache for truckers crossing border Highway in Sask. causing problems: opposition". The Canadian Press. Reed Business Information a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. May 17, 2005. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
9. "Saskatchewan NDP articles". Improving Highways - Weyburn Estevan Area. 2004-03-03. Archived from the original on 2007-11-12. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
10. "Building on Saskatchewan's Momentum" (PDF). The Canadian Federation of Independent Business CFIB. 2004-03-03. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
11. "Lomond No. 37". Community Profiles. Sask Biz Government of Saskatchewan. 2004. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
12. Weyburn Writer's Association (2006). "Hey, seeds!". Our Roots Nos Racines. University of Calgary, Université Laval. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
13. "2006 Community Profiles - Census Subdivision". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
14. "Canadian Rural Partnership - Rural Development - Public - Private Partnerships in Rural and Northern Canada Study - Appendix C - List of Projects". Government of Canada. 2005-09-26. Archived from the original on 2007-11-12. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
15. Adamson, J (5 November 2003). "Saskatchewan, Canada, Rand McNally 1924 Indexed Pocket Map Tourists' and Shippers' Guide" (PDF). Online Historical Map Digitization Project. Ancestry / Rootsweb. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
16. Donnan, Richard (1999–2006). "Lighthouse Water Tower Weyburn, Saskatchewan". LARGE CANADIAN ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS. Archived from the original on 2007-12-31. Retrieved 2008-02-15.
17. Government of Saskatchewan. "Sask Biz Qu'Appelle". Retrieved 2007-08-12.
18. "Fort Qu'Appelle, SK". Google Maps. Retrieved 2007-08-12. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
19. McLennan, David (2006). "Fort Qu'Appelle". The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. CANADIAN PLAINS RESEARCH CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF REGINA. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
20. Redekopp, Dale (1999–2006). "Praying Indian Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan". LARGE CANADIAN ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS. Archived from the original on 2007-11-09. Retrieved 2008-02-15.
21. Daniel, Calin; Town of Wadena (2010). "Ecotourism | Town of Wadena". Calin Daniel. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
22. Government of Saskatchewan. "Tisdale". Community Profiles. Sask Biz Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2007-08-12.
23. Yanciw, David (July 21, 2004). "Town of Tisdale, Saskatchewan". BIG THINGS IN ALBERTA / SASKATCHEWAN. Retrieved 2008-02-15.
24. "v". Tobin Lake Crew - About Tobin. 1993–2008. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
25. "The Francois Finlay Hydro Station". Nipawin.com - Attractions. Wapiti Valley CAP. 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
26. Yanciw, David (July 21, 2004). "Village of White Fox, Saskatchewan". BIG THINGS IN ALBERTA / SASKATCHEWAN. Retrieved 2008-02-15.
27. Gruenefeld, George. "OC Online - Hot Spots". Outdoor Canada. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
28. "Torch River No. 488". Community Profiles. Sask Biz Government of Saskatchewan. 2004. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
29. Sauchyn, David (2006). "Landslides". The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. CANADIAN PLAINS RESEARCH CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF REGINA. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
30. "Water Control - Saskatchewan Dams and Reservirs". Saskatchewan Watershed Authority. Archived from the original on 2007-01-01. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
31. History of Indian Head and District Inc. (2006). "Indian Head : history of Indian Head and district". Our Roots Nos Racines. University of Calgary, Université Laval. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
32. "Connaught No. 457". Community Profiles. Sask Biz Government of Saskatchewan. 2004. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
33. Nipawin Historical Society (2006). "Bridging the years : Nipawin, Saskatchewan". Our Roots Nos Racines. University of Calgary, Université Laval. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
34. Adamson, J (14 October 2003). "1926 Saskatchewan Highway Map". Online Historical Map Digitization Project. Ancestry / Rootsweb. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
35. Schmunk, Rhianna (April 9, 2018). "Humboldt Broncos crash site is no stranger to tragedy". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
36. MapArt (2007). Saskatchewan Road Atlas (Map) (2007 ed.). 1:540,000. Oshawa, ON: Peter Heiler Ltd. pp. 20, 26, 34, 42, 50. ISBN 1-55368-020-0.

External links

• End of U.S. Highway 85
• Hillcrest Cemetery Weyburn, Saskatchewan
• Junction of Highway #35 24 km North to Quill Lakes Bird Area
• In God We Trust Elevator (near Nipawin) The Changing Face of the Saskatchewan Prairie Image Gallery: Private Elevators
• Postcard Views of Southeast Saskatchewan
• Saskatchewan Highway 35 pictures
• Northeast Saskatchewan is a distinct trading area that includes the communities of Tisdale, Nipawin, Melfort, Hudson Bay, and Wadena
• The town of Qu'Appelle - photos of sightseeing in Saskatchewan on ..

Extra reading

Title: Homestead to Heritage, Author Armley History Book Committee, Publisher Friesen Printers, 1987