The Alberta Provincial Highway Network consists of all the roads, bridges and interchanges in Alberta that are maintained by the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors (TEC).

[4] In Alberta, similar to Ontario, all public roads are legally considered highways under the Traffic Safety Act (TSA), which sets forth traffic regulations, or the rules of the road that drivers on Alberta's highways are legally required and obligated to follow.

In April 1918, Bill 37, entitled "An Act to provide for a System of Highways in the Province", was passed, establishing the basis of a true highway network within the province.

It designated all public roads within the province as highways, including trails.

[9] By 1928, the year a gravel road stretched from Edmonton to the United States border, Alberta's provincial highway network comprised 2,310 km (1,440 mi).

[10] In 1973, a second highway system emerged, using three digits starting in the 500s and referred to as secondary roads, while the existing system continued to be referred to as provincial highways.