Government announces Highway 3 twinning between Taber and Burdett

“These projects lay the foundation for the private sector to create thousands of well-paying jobs for workers while creating many spinoff benefits for Alberta — including making communities more attractive to businesses looking to relocate. A strong highway network is vital to create jobs, spur economic growth and get Alberta back on track to economic recovery and growth.”

Highway 3 serves as the major connector between Saskatchewan and British Columbia, south of the Trans-Canada Highway.

President of the Highway 3 Twinning Association Bill Chapman and his team have been working on twinning the entire section of roadway across Alberta for about 20 years now.

He says he is “very grateful” that this section can now be done.

Transportation Minister Ric McIver says this project not only improves safety for drivers by creating space between the two directions of traffic, but there will be intersection improvements around Highway 877 and Grassy Lake as well as realignments in Grassy Lake and Purple Springs.

It is also meant to support the agricultural sector, which was described as the “superpower” of Southern Alberta’s economy.

“The agri-business sector is a key part of Alberta’s economic recovery. That’s why we are investing in critical infrastructure that creates jobs now and ensures that we can support the growth of this important sector. Twinning Highway 3 makes the roads safer, more efficient, and gets Albertans working when jobs are needed most,” says McIver.

Chapman talked about how many industries in the area rely on Highway 3 every day, including one company in Foremost that stores and delivers windmill parts across the region, a company in Bow Island that ships ready-to-move homes, and the fact that around 7,000 trucks deliver potatoes to the Cavendish plant in Lethbridge every year.

“The twinning of Highway 3, between Taber and Burdett, will not only increase safety in the movement of goods, services and people but it will also be a major infrastructure tool in helping establish this busy corridor as the agri-food hub of Canada,” stated Grant Hunter, MLA for Taber-Warner.

Hunter likened this road construction to the 1989 film Field of Dreams and mentioned the famous quote of “if you build it, [they] will come.”

The stretch of highway between Taber and Burdett sees about 3,900 vehicles per day.

Construction is set to start in 2021 and be completed in 2023.

Chapman said he will continue to push the provincial government to twin other sections of Highway 3 in the future, but given how much this part cost, he understands that it will take some time.

You can watch the full press conference below:

by David Opinko / Justin Goulet

Government announces Highway 3 twinning between Taber and Burdett

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