Saskatchewan Highway 12

Highway 12 is a major north–south provincial highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It begins at the north end of Saskatoon at the intersection of Idylwyld Drive and Highway 11 North (formerly beginning further south at the intersection with 22nd Street in downtown Saskatoon). Just outside Saskatoon's northern city limits, Highway 11 exits north-east from Idylwyld Drive and Highway 12 begins and travels north, passing along the western side of Martensville. The section of 12 from Martensville south to Saskatoon is twinned. Highway 12 then crosses the North Saskatchewan River over the Petrofka Bridge, passes through the town of Blaine Lake, and intersects Highway 40. It terminates at Highway 3 near Shell Lake.^[2] Highway 12 is about 135 kilometres (84 mi) long.^[1]

Provincial Highway 12 was originally the designated route which connected Saskatoon and Prince Albert, following present-day Highway 12 to the Hepburn area, then following present-day Highway 312 to Rosthern, before continuing northwest to Prince Albert.^[3][4] In the mid-1950s, the route was renumbered to Highway 11;^[5] however, in the 1960s, Highway 11 was realigned to follow a more direct route to Rosthern through Warman and Hague. Combined with the opening of the Petrofka Bridge in 1962,^[6] Highway 12 was revived and went to Highway 40 at Blaine Lake.^[7] In the 1970s, Highway 12 was extended north to Shell Lake.^[8]

The southern terminus of Highway 12 begins at the intersection with Highway 11, just north of Saskatoon.^[9] From that point, Highway 11 continues south into Saskatoon running concurrently with Idylwyld Drive and, in the other direction, heads north-east to Warman. Highway 12 heads north with the first 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to Martensville^[10] being twinned. Access to Martensville is by a partial cloverleaf interchange. Continuing north as a two-laned highway, it intersects Highway 305 then 375 near Hepburn.^[11] After that intersection, it curves north-west, intersects Highway 312, and continues to the North Saskatchewan River. It crosses the river via the Petrofka Bridge, meets Highway 781 near the former Doukhobor village of Petrofka, provides access to the Petrofka Recreation Site,^[12] and then resumes its northerly heading to Blaine Lake and Highway 40.

Highway 12 intersects Highway 40 on the south side of Blaine Lake. The highway then travels north-west through town as Main Street.^[13] Heading out of town, it continues its north-westerly travel for almost 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) before turning west. After about 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) of westerly travel, it turns north en route to its northern terminus at Highway 3, just south of the community of Shell Lake.^[14] Along this stretch of highway, it intersects Highways 786 and 792, runs along the eastern slopes of the Thickwood Hills,^[15] and provides access to Iroquois Lake and Big Shell Lake and the associated communities and amenities.

From south to north:^[2]

• Transportation in Saskatchewan
• Roads in Saskatchewan