The Government of Saskatchewan announced Monday that it will complete the remaining nine kilometres on the Saskatchewan side of the border of the La Loche to Fort McMurray all-weather road.

Premier Scott Moe says an all-weather road between the two northern communities will give employers access to a valuable workforce in norther Saskatchewan and at the same time provides gainful employment and development opportunities in the region.

The road was originally announced as a project to commemorate the two province’s centennials in 2005. Saskatchewan broke ground on Highway 956, its portion of the project, in 2007 and completed 44 of the total 53 kilometres in 2008.

Premier Moe also sent a letter to Alberta Premier Jason Kenney asking that his province make a similar commitment to complete the Alberta side.

Pre-construction work on the remaining nine kilometres near Garson Lake to the Alberta border will begin this year, with construction expected to be complete by the end of 2023. Alberta has not yet begun construction of its portion of the road.