It begins near the locality of Crowfoot, 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Bassano, at Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway).

It continues through Drumheller and Stettler before ending at Highway 26, 6 km (4 mi) east of Camrose.

This was due in large part to then Alberta Premier Don Getty, who at the time was also the MLA for Stettler.

All talk of this endeavor stopped once Getty retired from politics and was succeeded as Premier by Ralph Klein.

The renumbering was a response to local requests to align the numbering of the short portion of highway with the pre-existing portions of Highway 56.