Saskatchewan Highway 8


Highway 8 is a provincial highway in Saskatchewan, Canada. The highway runs along the eastern side of the province from North Dakota Highway 28 at the U.S. border near Elmore until it transitions into Highway 982 just south of the Porcupine Hills. Along the route, it intersects both the Trans-Canada and Yellowhead Highways. It provides access to several towns and multiple smaller communities and is about long. For most of the highway's route, it traverses relatively flat prairie. Along the way, though, it crosses three large river valleys, the Qu'Appelle River, Assiniboine River, and the Swan River.
Highway 8 is paved from Elmore until Langenburg, and then from MacNutt until km 396 near Swan Plain.

Route description

Highway 8 is a north–south highway that closely follows Saskatchewan's eastern border with Manitoba. It begins near Elmore at the Canada–United States border crossing of Sherwood–Carievale in the south-east corner of Saskatchewan. South from the border, it continues as North Dakota Highway 28. North, it roughly parallels Saskatchewan's border with Manitoba until the Porcupine Hills.
From the border crossing and Elmore, Highway 8 heads north for about to the village of Carievale. About south of Carievale, the highway crosses the Antler River. Once at Carievale, the highway runs along the western side of the village before crossing a railway line and intersecting the east–west Highway 18. Highways 18 and 8 share a short westbound concurrency before 8 turns back north. Continuing north, Highway 8 intersects Highway 361, passes through the former site of Saint Antoine, and enters the town of Redvers running along its eastern side. At Redvers, it has an intersection with the east–west Highway 13. Crossing 13, the highway continues north towards Highway 48. Along the way, it passes through Ryerson, provides access to Fairlight, and crosses a railway line. Fairlight is at the intersection of 8 and 48. After crossing 48, Highway 48 continues north where it crosses the Pipestone Creek, passes by Pipestone Hills Golf Course, and intersects Highway 709. Moosomin Lake Regional Park is a short distance west of Highway 8 with access from Highway 709. About north of the 709, Highway 8 curves to the north-east and runs through the town of Moosomin as Main Street. On the north side of town, the highway crosses the CPR Mainline and meets Highway 1 — the Trans-Canada Highway. The two highways share a long westbound concurrency. Highway 8 leaves the concurrency resuming its northbound routing.
Highway 8 continues north for roughly to the town of Rocanville. En route to Rocanille, it intersects Highways 308 and 703. At Rocanville, the highway turns west running along the southern limits of town. It begins to curve back north as it rounds the west side of Rocanville. There it has an intersection with Highway 601 then heads north for to the precipice of the Qu'Appelle Valley. It enters the valley travelling in a north-westerly direction. In the valley, it crosses the Qu'Appelle River and then climbs out the other side. Coming out of the valley, the highway heads north for before turning north-east crossing Cutarm Creek. After Cutarm Creek, it provides access to Spy Hill then turns north heading to Langenburg and Highway 16 — the Yellowhead Highway. Between Spy Hill and Langenberg, Highway 8 provides access to Carlton Trail Regional Park and Langenburg Recreation Site. It also has a long concurrency with Highway 22.
Highway 8 heads north from Langenburg for at which point, it turns east at an intersection with Highway 723. Highway 723 continues west while 8 heads east for. It then turns north and runs for to Highway 10. Along the way, it intersects Highway 381 at MacNutt. For roughly between Langenburg and MacNutt, the highway has a gravel surface. At Highway 10, Highway 8 turns west and the two highways run concurrently for. The concurrency ends south of Wroxton at which point Highway 8 turns north into Wroxton while 10 continues west to Yorkton. Travelling north from Wroxton, Highway 8 intersects Highways 726 and 357 en route to the town of Kamsack and Highway 5. Just prior to Kamsack, Highway 8 drops into the Assiniboine River Valley where it crosses the Assiniboine River near its confluence with the Whitesand River. It climbs out of the valley and turns north-west running along the south-western side of Kamsack. At Kamsack's western end, 8 meets the east–west Highway 5. Highway 5 runs through town as Queen Elizbeth Boulevard while Highway 8 continues north paralleling the Assiniboine River towards Pelly and Highway 49. Along this stretch of highway, 8 intersects Highway 660 and provides access to Badgerville on the Cote 64 Indian reserve and Saint Phillips and Springside on the Keeseekoose 66 Indian reserve. At Pelly, Highway 8 turns west and shares a long concurrency with 49 that crosses the Assiniboine River and ends at Norquay. On the west side of Norquay, Highway 8 turns north once again. After about of northward travel, 8 turns to the north-east and crosses the Swan River. After crossing the river, it heads north to Arabella, Highway 753, Okanese 82S Indian reserve, and Swan Plain. From Swan Plain, Highway 8 continues for a further into the Porcupine Hills and Porcupine Provincial Forest before transitioning into Highway 982. Highway 982 continues north-west into the hills where it connects with Highway 9.

Upgrades history

  • Paving of Highway 8 from Highway 10 to 22.6 km northward was announced on June 19, 1998, to begin in July of that year.
  • In mid-2001, a surfacing project was begun on 17.7 km of Highway 8, from Highway 357 until Kamsack.
  • A surfacing of 9.5 km of Highway 8 near Moosomin began on July 26, 2001.
  • As of August 6, 2004, improvement construction had begun on 11.2 km of Highway 8, from Storthoaks until 11 km south of Redvers.

    Major attractions

  • The Moosomin Lake Regional Park is at km 121.
  • The Carlton Trail Regional Park is at km 198.
  • The Langenburg Recreation Site is at km 216.

    Major intersections