Highway 3 twinning association encouraged by Piikani study
By Tim Kalinowski on May 26, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDtkalinowski@lethbridgeherald.com Highway 3 Twinning Development Association president Bill Chapman says the potential for a full Highway 3 twinning is coming into clearer view thanks to a recent provincial government announcement it would be funding a Piikani Nation Functional Study of the stretch of highway which runs through the First Nation’s lands.“In terms of the study, this will be the final study (needed),” says Chapman. “The Government of Alberta has already put about $10 million into functional planning studies for all of Hwy. 3. And this is one of the last pieces they need to work on. We’re just glad the province recognizes the Piikani Nation as an integral part of their planning and to their study.”
The functional study marks another major milestone in the long desired twinning project which saw another significant advancement last year when the province announced it would be spending $150 million to twin 46 km of Hwy. 3 between Taber and Burdett.
“We are just grateful the government has recognized the economic development opportunities here in southern Alberta, and, of course, Hwy. 3 is really the centrepiece for e0conomic development,” says Chapman. “We see it as the primary component that will build all of southern Alberta in terms of an economic future.”
Chapman hopes to keep the completion of Hwy. 3 twinning very much in the province’s mind in the near future. Not only is the project much needed, he says, it also has the potential to act as an important economic stimulus for the region going forward.
“Albertans recognize (this twinning) as a need, industry recognizes it as a need, agriculture recognizes it as a need, and, of course, our MLAs all recognize it as a real key component to building the future of Alberta,” he states. “The Hwy. 3 Twinning Association is going to press for the full development of the project.”
The Highway 3 Twinning Development Association is encouraging southern Alberta residents to visit its website at twin3.ca to fill out a petition to ask the government to press ahead with Highway 3 twinning.
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