No specific timeline given by regional MLA on next phase of Highway 3 twinning

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on July 13, 2023.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

TABER

Twinning another stretch of Highway 3 in southern Alberta is set to get underway in 2023, but Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter wasn’t able to provide any specifics on the immediate timeline.

In Phase 1 of the project, 46 kilometres will be twinned between Taber and Burdett.

The overall project – full twinning from Medicine Hat to the British Columbia boundary – is being proposed in eight phases to limit cost factors and avoid disruption to people that live and work along the route.

“We’re excited about Highway 3, starting in 2023 between Taber and Burdett,” Hunter told the Taber Times on June 30. “I’m really excited about that.”

Exactly when construction is set to get underway is more of a question mark, according to Hunter.

“Not shovels in the ground yet. But it’s imminent.”

Premier Danielle Smith announced last fall that in the long-discussed plan to twin Highway 3, the province would consider it in eight phases.

Along with the Taber-Burdett portion:

– Phase 2: 10 km related to a bypass at Coleman;

– Phase 3: 15 km from east of Seven Persons to Medicine Hat;

– Phase 4: 47 km from Blairmore to east of Highway 6 at Pincher Creek;

– Phase 5: 28 km from east of Bow Island to east of Seven Persons;

– Phase 6: 23 km from east of Burdett to east of Bow Island;

– Phase 7: 38 km from Pincher Creek to west of Fort Macleod, and;

– Phase 8: 8 km from the Alberta-B.C. boundary to Highway 3X).

Associated with the Highway 3 twinning project is further development of the highway’s agri-food processing corridor.

“Obviously the agri-food processing corridor is my main focus right now,” said Hunter. “That’s going to be transformational in that area. And if we land some of the big deals that we’re looking at, there’s going to be some really good growth opportunities, GDP growth opportunities.”

20
-19