Alberta Provincial Highway No. 39, commonly referred to as Highway 39, is an east–west highway in central Alberta, Canada.[2] It extends from Highway 22, approximately 13 kilometres (8 mi) east of Drayton Valley, to Leduc where it ends at Highway 2. Highway 39 is about 91 kilometres (57 mi) long.[1][3]
Highway 39 also connects with the communities of Breton, Warburg, Thorsby, and Calmar; while most of the small communities are now bypassed, Highway 39 still travels along Main Street in Calmar.[4]
History
Highway 39 was originally constructed as a link between Leduc and Breton, where it ended at Highway 12 (now Highway 20). In 1955, a ferry across the North Saskatchewan River started operations southeast of Drayton Valley,[5] resulting in Highway 57 following present-day Highway 616 to Breton.[6] It proved to be short-lived as in 1957, the Highway 57 was realigned across a new bridge,[7] terminating with Highway 39 in Alsike.[8] In the 1960s, a 9 km (6 mi) section of Highway 39 between Breton and Alsike was renumbered to Highway 12, resulting in Highways 12, 39, and 57 once again terminating at a common point, this time in Alsike. In 1980, the Highway 22 designation was extended north, which included a 56 km (35 mi) section of Highway 57 being renumbered; the remaining 27 km (17 mi) section of Highway 57 became part of Highway 39.[9]
^Martin, Isobel (1977). Forests to Grainfields. Berrymoor, Alberta: Berrymoor/Carnwood Historical Society. p. 133. ISBN0-919213-36-7. Archived from the original on January 10, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
