Highway 5 begins near downtown Saskatoon at Idylwyld Drive North (Highway 11 and 12), as 25th Street East. Saskatoon is the most populous city located in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River, with a metropolitan population of 233,923. The highway starting terminus is adjacent to the Saskatoon Railway Station a national historic site classified as a Designated Heritage Railway Station. Along 25th Street, there is a historic marker commemorating the King Edward School building the first home of Saskatoon's city hall, and the Saskatoon World War memorial marker. The Meewasin Valley Trail follows the South Saskatchewan River through Saskatoon which is visible when Highway 5 traverses the University Bridge. At the top of the bridge is the University of Saskatchewan's President's Residence which was constructed between 1910 and 1913. East of the residence are the Memorial Gates are a World War I memorial, the interment site of the Honourable Sir Frederick W. A. G. Haultain's ashes, the entrance to the Royal University Hospital and University of Saskatchewan. It becomes College Drive after crossing the river, and at km 4.4, after passing Preston Avenue, the road diverges into a divided or twinned highway with 2 lanes traveling in either direction across a meridian Continuing east it intersects the Circle Drive freeway route (Highway 16) at an interchange that opened in 2006. After a signalized intersection with Central Avenue and an interchange with McKercher Drive, and then meets one of the city's newest interchanges at McOrmond Drive. Highway 5 leaves Saskatoon's city limits where it undivides, at approx. km 14.