It is the primary route between the Edmonton area and the Lesser Slave Lake region. The stretch between Highway 16 and Westlock was formerly Secondary Highway 794, but due to a large increase in traffic it was upgraded to Highway 44 in 1999.
This highway plays a crucial role as the primary passage connecting the Edmonton metropolitan area with the Lesser Slave Lake region. In the past, the segment between Highway 16 and Westlock was previously known as Secondary Highway 794; however, it was elevated to Highway 44 in 1999 due to a substantial increase in traffic volume.