Editing Saskatchewan (section)

== Transportation ==
{{Main|Transportation in Saskatchewan}}
Transportation in Saskatchewan includes an infrastructure system of roads, highways, freeways, airports, ferries, pipelines, trails, waterways and railway systems <ref>{{Cite web |date=August 8, 2024 |title=Ministry of Highways {{!}} Ministries |url=https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/government-structure/ministries/highways |access-date=August 9, 2024 |website=Government of Saskatchewan |language=en |archive-date=August 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809002608/https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/government-structure/ministries/highways |url-status=live }}</ref> serving a population of approximately 1,003,299 (according to 2007 estimates) inhabitants year-round.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.saskatchewan.ca/-/media/news-archive/2007/december/19/saskatchewan-population-tops-one-million/qpr-2007-q3.pdf |title=Saskatchewan Quarterly Population Report |publication-date=December 19, 2007 |language=English }}</ref> The Saskatchewan Department of Highways and Transportation estimates 80% of traffic is carried on the 5,031-kilometre principal system of highways.<ref>{{cite web |title=Saskatchewan Department of Highways and Transportation |url=http://www.highways.gov.sk.ca/ |website=highways.gov.sk |access-date=January 18, 2008 |archive-date=December 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205030026/http://www.highways.gov.sk.ca/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:QuAppelleRiverHwy2.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Saskatchewan Highway 2|CanAm Highway]] near [[Buffalo Pound Lake]]]]
The [[Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure (Saskatchewan)|Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure]] operates over {{cvt|26000|km}} of highways and [[Dual carriageway|divided highways]]. There are also municipal roads which comprise different surfaces. Asphalt concrete pavements comprise almost {{cvt|9000|km}}, granular pavement almost {{cvt|5000|km}}, non structural or thin membrane surface TMS are close to {{cvt|7000|km}} and finally gravel highways make up over {{cvt|5600|km}} through the province. In the northern sector, [[ice road]]s which can only be navigated in the winter months comprise another approximately {{cvt|150|km}} of travel.<ref name="SHT">{{cite web |title=Performance Plan – Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation |url=http://www.highways.gov.sk.ca/pp04-pdf/ |last=Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation |website=highways.gov.sk |access-date=September 4, 2007 |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227074234/http://www.highways.gov.sk.ca/pp04-pdf/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2024, the [[Government of Canada]] provided Saskatchewan with a $6.1-million grant for [[shuttle bus]]es serving remote communities.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mihalik |first1=Halyna |title=Sask. town's new shuttle vehicle among rural transportation projects funded in federal budget |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/federal-rural-transit-solutions-fund-gravelbourg-1.7178302 |website=CBC News |access-date=June 4, 2024 |archive-date=June 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604012205/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/federal-rural-transit-solutions-fund-gravelbourg-1.7178302 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Saskatchewan has over {{cvt|250,000|km}} of roads and highways, the highest length of road surface of any Canadian province.<ref name="raw">{{cite web |title=Saskatchewan |url=http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/243/international_travel/North-America/Saskatchewan.html |year=2007 |website=worldtravelguide |publisher=World Travel Guide – Nexus Business Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927040431/http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/243/international_travel/North-America/Saskatchewan.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |access-date=September 4, 2007 }}</ref> The major highways in Saskatchewan are the [[Saskatchewan Highway 1|Trans-Canada Highway]], [[Saskatchewan Highway 16|Yellowhead Highway]] northern Trans Canada route, [[Saskatchewan Highway 11|Louis Riel Trail]], [[Saskatchewan Highway 2|CanAm Highway]], [[Saskatchewan Highway 13|Red Coat Trail]], [[Saskatchewan Highway 55|Northern Woods and Water route]], and [[Saskatchewan Highway 9|Saskota travel route]].

The first [[Canadian transcontinental railway]] was constructed by the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] (CPR) between 1881 and 1885.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canadian Pacific Railway |url=http://www.cpr.ca/ |website=cpr |access-date=January 18, 2008 |archive-date=May 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515164233/https://www8.cpr.ca/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After the great east–west transcontinental railway was built, north–south connector branch lines were established. The 1920s saw the largest rise in rail line track as the CPR and [[Canadian National Railway]] (CNR) fell into competition to provide rail service within ten kilometres. In the 1960s there were applications for abandonment of branch lines.<ref name="atlas">{{Cite book |last=Fung |first=K.I. |title=Atlas of Saskatchewan |place=Saskatoon |publisher=Modern Press |year=1969 }}</ref> Today the only two passenger rail services in the province are ''[[The Canadian]]'' and [[Winnipeg–Churchill train]], both operated by [[Via Rail]]. ''The Canadian'' is a transcontinental service linking Toronto with Vancouver.

The main Saskatchewan waterways are the [[North Saskatchewan River]] or [[South Saskatchewan River]] routes. In total, there are 3,050 bridges maintained by the Department of Highways in Saskatchewan.<ref name="Bridge">{{cite web |title=Bridges |url=http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/bridges.html |last=Ivanochko |first=Bob |year=2006 |work=CANADIAN PLAINS RESEARCH CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF REGINA |publisher=Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080128150236/http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/bridges.html |archive-date=January 28, 2008 |access-date=January 18, 2008 }}</ref> There are currently twelve ferry services operating in the province, all under the jurisdiction of the Department of Highways.

The [[Saskatoon/John G. Diefenbaker International Airport|Saskatoon Airport]] was initially established as part of the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] training program during [[World War II]]. It was renamed the John G. Diefenbaker Airport in 1993.<ref name="SE">{{cite web |title=Airport History |work=Saskatoon Airport Authority |url=https://skyxe.ca/about-us/mission-history |access-date=January 18, 2008 |archive-date=July 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716211109/https://skyxe.ca/about-us/mission-history |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Roland J. Groome Airfield'' is the official designation for the [[Regina International Airport]] as of 2005; the airport was established in 1930.

Airlines offering service to Saskatchewan are [[Air Canada]], [[WestJet Airlines]], [[Delta Air Lines]], [[Transwest Air]], [[Sunwing Airlines]], Norcanair Airlines, La Ronge Aviation Services Ltd, La Loche Airways, Osprey Wings Ltd, Buffalo Narrows Airways Ltd, Île-à-la-Crosse Airways Ltd, Voyage Air, [[Pronto Airways]], Venture Air Ltd, Pelican Narrows Air Service, Jackson Air Services Ltd, and Northern Dene Airways Ltd.<ref name="service">{{cite web |title=Saskatchewan Airlines: Airlines in Saskatchewan, Canada |url=http://saskatchewan.worldweb.com/Transportation/Airlines/ |date=1994–2008 |website=saskatchewan.worldweb |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030304212047/http://saskatchewan.worldweb.com/Transportation/Airlines/ |archive-date=March 4, 2003 |access-date=January 18, 2008 }}</ref>

The [[Government of Canada]] agreed to contribute $20 million for two new interchanges in [[Saskatoon]]. One of them being at the [[Saskatchewan Highway 219|Highway 219]]/Lorne Avenue intersection with Circle Drive, the other at the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge (Idylwyld Freeway) and Circle Drive. This is part of the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative to improve access to the CNR's intermodal freight terminal thereby increasing Asia-Pacific trade. Also, the Government of Canada will contribute $27 million to Regina to construct a CPR intermodal facility and improve infrastructure transportation to the facility from both national highway networks, [[Saskatchewan Highway 1|Highway 1, the Trans-Canada Highway]] and [[Saskatchewan Highway 11|Highway 11, Louis Riel Trail]]. This also is part of the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative to improve access to the CPR terminal and increase Asia-Pacific trade.<ref name="Hon. Lawrence Cannon, M.P., P.C. Minister of transport, infrastructure and communities">{{cite web |title=Statement by Hon. Lawrence Cannon, M.P., P.C. Minister of transport, infrastructure and communities at a news conference of Council of ministers responsible for transportation and highway safety |url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2008/08/c3781.html |first=Lawrence |last=Cannon |date=2005–2008 |work=Newswire |publisher=CNW Group |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422090316/http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2008/08/c3781.html |archive-date=April 22, 2008 |access-date=April 27, 2008 }}</ref>