(Pattison Media/CHAT News Today)

By Chris Brown / CHAT News Today

Highway 3 group wants economic footprint analysis done on twinning

Jun 22, 2022 | 11:30 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Highway 3 Twinning Development Association has commissioned a study on twinning the remaining sections of the route from Medicine Hat to the British Columbia boundary.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada has been retained to complete an economic footprint analysis.

“Investing in Highway 3 is a smart choice, both in terms of short- and long-term economic development for our region, but also in terms of lives saved and increased safety. We are thrilled to have this analysis completed at a critical time for our southern Alberta supply-chain, agriculture expansion and recent growth in all sectors,” says H3TDA chairperson Bill Chapman in a statement.

The group says the study will include two key components: estimation of the direct and indirect economic and tax footprint that Highway 3 twinning is expected to create; and identification and assessment of the wider socio-economic impacts associated with the Highway 3 Expansion.

Community Futures is one of the regional groups supporting the study.

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“We know the twinning of Highway 3 is very important to all the communities along the corridor for many reasons including safety, tourism, business attraction and retention,” says Sean Blewett, general manager of Community Futures Entre-Corp and Chinook. “This report will showcase the economic value further twinning will generate and we look forward to the final outcome.”

The project is anticipated to continue through the summer, with draft reviews coming in late summer and the final report approved by the Highway 3 Twinning Development Association Board in the fall. Once complete, the document will be distributed to the provincial and federal transportation departments, the H3TDA’s economic development partners and members, as well as southern Alberta MPs and MLAs.

The Highway 3 Twinning Development Association acknowledges the support of several stakeholders who provided the Association with funding donations towards the EIA

• Government of Alberta, Department of Transportation
• 5 Community Futures along the corridor: Medicine Hat, Chinook (Taber), SouthWest (Fort Macleod), Crowsnest Pass and Lethbridge
• Invest Medicine Hat/City of Medicine Hat
• Palliser Economic Partnership
• SouthGrow Regional Initiative
• Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance
• Peaks to Prairies: Driving a Regional Asset
• Economic Development Lethbridge
• Alberta Sugar Beet Growers
• Potato Growers of Alberta